by our College Data Analytics Team
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their civil engineering graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 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.
George Washington University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from George Washington University typically earn about $113,579 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Carnegie Mellon University make a median of around $106,890 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in civil engineering will find them at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #3. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Columbia University In The City Of New York make a median of around $96,195 per year.
Cornell University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of about $100,258 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in civil engineering will find them at Catholic University Of America, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Catholic University Of America typically earn about $103,238 annually.
Manhattan College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Manhattan College make a median of around $105,202 per year.
Syracuse University landed the #7 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Syracuse University typically earn about $97,093 annually.
Bucknell University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Bucknell University typically earn about $88,296 annually.
Stevens Institute Of Technology ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Stevens Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $96,100 a year early in their careers.
University Of Maryland College Park placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school located in the suburb of College Park. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $90,438 a year early in their careers.
New York University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. New York University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career civil engineering graduates from New York University make a median of around $95,184 per year.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #12 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,283.
Lehigh University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Lehigh University make a median of around $90,786 per year.
University Of Delaware placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of Delaware make a median of around $88,414 per year.
Drexel University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,709.
Lafayette College came in at #16 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,802.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #17 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick make a median of around $89,751 per year.
Howard University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Howard University make a median of around $77,997 per year.
Villanova University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Villanova University earn a median of about $87,148 a year early in their careers.
Cuny City College landed the #20 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,337.
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Johnstown, University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown make a median of around $88,756 per year.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus typically earn about $88,756 annually.
Clarkson University landed the #23 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Clarkson University make a median of around $83,782 per year.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned the #24 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a public school located in the city of Newark. Civil Engineering graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $85,574 a year early in their careers.
Temple University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Temple University typically earn about $83,575 annually.
These schools also send civil engineering graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 32 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.
