by our College Data Analytics Team
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 86 schools on the early-career earnings of their civil engineering graduates.
What’s on this page:
Where you study civil engineering affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we built our Highest Paid Civil Engineering Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its civil engineering graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Learn more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Civil Engineering Graduates list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools whose civil engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked California State Polytechnic University Pomona the top school for civil engineering graduate earnings in the United States. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $117,917.
Students chasing top earnings in civil engineering will find them at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from San Jose State University make a median of around $114,115 per year.
Carnegie Mellon University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $111,544 a year early in their careers.
University Of Colorado Denver produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of about $108,443 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $107,621.
Santa Clara University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Santa Clara University typically earn about $102,953 annually.
Manhattan College earned the #7 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverdale. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Manhattan College typically earn about $120,093 annually.
University Of Nevada Reno placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of Nevada Reno make a median of around $102,489 per year.
California State University Los Angeles placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,242.
Stanford University landed the #10 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Stanford University typically earn about $122,256 annually.
University Of Southern California earned the #11 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $110,412 per year.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $113,353.
New York University came in at #13 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from New York University make a median of around $103,711 per year.
University Of Connecticut came in at #14 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of Connecticut make a median of around $95,494 per year.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #15 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school located in the city of Austin. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin typically earn about $110,994 annually.
Clemson University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Clemson University typically earn about $94,175 annually.
University Of California San Diego landed the #17 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. University Of California San Diego is a public school located in the city of La Jolla. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $100,777.
The University Of Alabama placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,898.
California State University Fullerton landed the #19 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,350.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #20 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus typically earn about $102,609 annually.
California State University Sacramento landed the #21 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $102,565 a year early in their careers.
University Of Central Florida landed the #22 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of about $93,343 a year early in their careers.
Norwich University earned the #23 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a private not-for-profit institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Norwich University earn a median of about $99,829 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Davis landed the #24 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $101,971 per year.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #25 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $103,431 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send civil engineering graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries civil engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 86 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
