by our College Data Analytics Team
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a civil engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 37 schools on the early-career earnings of their civil engineering graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose civil engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
San Jose State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $106,415 annually.
A rank of #2 makes University Of The Pacific one of the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of The Pacific make a median of around $103,144 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in civil engineering will find them at University Of Southern California, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of about $116,779 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in civil engineering will find them at Santa Clara University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Santa Clara University make a median of around $111,831 per year.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Early-career civil engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $101,618 per year.
University Of California Berkeley landed the #6 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $104,581 a year early in their careers.
Loyola Marymount University landed the #7 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Loyola Marymount University make a median of around $87,790 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #8 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $102,084 a year early in their careers.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #9 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,934.
University Of California Davis placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $98,091.
California State University Chico came in at #11 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of about $101,629 a year early in their careers.
California State University Los Angeles landed the #12 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from California State University Los Angeles make a median of around $99,644 per year.
California State University Long Beach placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach typically earn about $98,200 annually.
California Baptist University earned the #14 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,633.
University Of Alaska Anchorage landed the #15 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Anchorage, University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Alaska Anchorage earn a median of about $98,861 a year early in their careers.
San Diego State University landed the #16 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of about $96,325 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Irvine landed the #17 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. University Of California Irvine is a public school located in the city of Irvine. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of California Irvine make a median of around $94,661 per year.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #18 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $93,627 per year.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earned the #19 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus typically earn about $93,627 annually.
San Francisco State University came in at #20 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of about $100,807 a year early in their careers.
California State University Sacramento earned the #21 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. California State University Sacramento is a public school located in the city of Sacramento. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from California State University Sacramento typically earn about $95,595 annually.
California State University Fullerton ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from California State University Fullerton typically earn about $93,096 annually.
Washington State University earned the #23 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,281.
Saint Martins University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Saint Martins University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lacey. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Saint Martins University typically earn about $92,987 annually.
California State University Fresno earned the #25 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of about $93,213 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning civil engineering graduates:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their civil engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 37 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.
