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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 50 schools to find where civil engineering graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send civil engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Vanderbilt University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools in the Southeast Region. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Civil Engineering graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of about $107,563 a year early in their careers.
George Mason University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of George Mason University earn a median of about $95,921 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,518.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus typically earn about $91,461 annually.
University Of Florida produces some of the highest-paid graduates in civil engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,493.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #6 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $84,707 a year early in their careers.
Clemson University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,941.
The University Of Alabama came in at #8 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Alabama typically earn about $86,784 annually.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #9 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,617.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #10 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of about $84,995 a year early in their careers.
University Of Central Florida landed the #11 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. University Of Central Florida is a public school located in the suburb of Orlando. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Central Florida typically earn about $86,452 annually.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Civil Engineering graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of about $88,199 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga landed the #13 spot for civil engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of about $90,909 a year early in their careers.
University Of Louisville came in at #14 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Louisville typically earn about $89,150 annually.
Florida International University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of Florida International University earn a median of about $88,016 a year early in their careers.
Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Arkansas State University Main Campus make a median of around $74,874 per year.
Florida State University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Florida State University is a public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Early-career civil engineering graduates from Florida State University make a median of around $86,289 per year.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #18 position for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Tampa. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of about $80,617 a year early in their careers.
Kennesaw State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Kennesaw State University is a public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. Civil Engineering graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of about $86,768 a year early in their careers.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn a median of about $80,744 a year early in their careers.
Auburn University came in at #21 for civil engineering graduate earnings this year. Auburn University is a public school located in the city of Auburn. Civil Engineering graduates of Auburn University earn a median of about $81,856 a year early in their careers.
Mississippi State University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Students who complete the civil engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,639.
University Of Georgia placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for civil engineering. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Georgia typically earn about $73,327 annually.
West Virginia University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. After graduating, civil engineering degree recipients from West Virginia University typically earn about $81,556 annually.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Beckley, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Civil Engineering graduates of West Virginia University Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $81,556 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send civil engineering graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 50 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.
