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 schools below stand out for the salaries their civil engineering graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 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.
Leading the list is University Of Notre Dame, our #1 for civil engineering graduate salaries in Indiana. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,259.
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology typically earn about $89,394 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $85,536 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Valparaiso University one of the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Set in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,194.
Trine University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Set in the town of Angola, Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Trine University earn a median of about $77,554 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Northwest ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of about $69,339 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 6 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.