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2026 Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools

137 Colleges in the United States
4,788 Civil Engineering Degrees Awarded
$74,959 Avg Early-Career Salary

Civil Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 334 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best civil engineering schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Civil Engineering in the United States

These are the top schools for a master’s degree in civil engineering, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in Civil Engineering

1

Johns Hopkins University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in civil engineering. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 35 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $84,850 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree. Read more about the civil engineering program at Johns Hopkins University

2
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 176 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $83,740 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree. Get the full civil engineering details for Stanford University

3

University Of Southern California came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 49 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from University Of Southern California earn around $91,025 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,125. More information about a degree in civil engineering from University Of Southern California

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for civil engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 208 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $78,142. Students borrow a median of $14,392 to complete this degree. See the full civil engineering program report for University Of California Berkeley

5

The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 74 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $83,515. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,030 in student loans. Get the full civil engineering details for The University Of Texas At Austin

6

University Of California San Diego ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 60 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $89,543 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $16,400 in student loans. See the full civil engineering program report for University Of California San Diego

7

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #7 for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 16 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full civil engineering details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

8

University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #8 among the best civil engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 131 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $87,462. Typical student debt for the program is $14,874. Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus

9

University Of California Los Angeles placed #9 among the best civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 71 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $81,415 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,444 to complete this degree. See the full civil engineering program report for University Of California Los Angeles

10

Cornell University landed the #10 spot for civil engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $81,361 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans. See the full civil engineering program report for Cornell University

11
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University earned the #11 position for civil engineering this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from New York University earn around $91,660 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,905 to complete this degree. See the full civil engineering program report for New York University

12

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #12 spot for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 52 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University

13

Northwestern University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 40 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree. See the full civil engineering program report for Northwestern University

14

Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #14 spot for civil engineering this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 127 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $88,198. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. See the full civil engineering program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York

15
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University placed #15 among the best civil engineering schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University

16

San Jose State University came in at #16 for civil engineering this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 36 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the civil engineering program at San Jose State University

17
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University came in at #17 for civil engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree. See the full civil engineering program report for Tufts University

18

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #18 spot for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 29 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $88,805 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516. Read more about the civil engineering program at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

19

University Of California Davis landed the #19 spot for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 58 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $86,909. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $16,101 in student loans. Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of California Davis

20

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #20 position for civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 108 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $79,099 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,054 in student loans. More information about a degree in civil engineering from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

21

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #21 spot for civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 49 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $79,679 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree. See the full civil engineering program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

22

University Of California Irvine earned the #22 position for civil engineering this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 22 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $73,835 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $19,700 in student loans. Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of California Irvine

23

Northeastern University landed the #23 spot for civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $83,591 in their early career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Read more about the civil engineering program at Northeastern University

24
Princeton University crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University landed the #24 spot for civil engineering this year. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $67,532 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888. See the full civil engineering program report for Princeton University

25

North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #25 spot for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 51 civil engineering degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $88,923. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Get the full civil engineering details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

Rest of the Top 50 Civil Engineering Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s civil engineering ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN
32
33
34
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL
35
36
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
37
38
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

Honorable Mentions

A few more civil engineering schools worth a look:

Other Civil Engineering Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Civil Engineering rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Civil Engineering
Associate's Degrees in Civil Engineering
Bachelor's Degrees in Civil Engineering
View All Civil Engineering Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 334 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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