2027 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Virginia

[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value civil engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in civil engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Old Dominion University, our #1 best value for civil engineering in Virginia. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $64,246. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
George Mason University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $23,812. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $79,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #3 makes Virginia Military Institute one of the best values for civil engineering. Set in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,046, while out-of-state students pay about $52,638. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $61,547. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Virginia Main Campus earned it the #4 place for civil engineering. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $14,903. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $74,772. Set against $14,903 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned it the #5 place for civil engineering. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,760 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $75,151 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,760 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $27,414. Civil Engineering graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $45,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.