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. The highest-paying schools turn a civil engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying civil engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose civil engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Worcester Polytechnic Institute, our #1 for civil engineering graduate salaries in Massachusetts. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute typically earn about $97,994 annually.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Boston, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Wentworth Institute Of Technology typically earn about $90,759 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Northeastern University earned it the #3 place for civil engineering. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of about $97,095 a year early in their careers.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology typically earn about $95,276 annually.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of Massachusetts Amherst make a median of around $86,717 per year.
Merrimack College landed the #6 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Merrimack College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Merrimack College typically earn about $75,556 annually.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,048.
Western New England University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Western New England University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Civil Engineering graduates of Western New England University earn a median of about $67,726 a year early in their careers.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #9 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public institution. Early-career civil engineering graduates from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth make a median of around $72,965 per year.
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 · 9 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.