2027 Best Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Civil Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 252 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best civil engineering schools.
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Best Schools for Civil Engineering in the United States
Below are the best civil engineering schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Civil Engineering
Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the best school in the country for a degree in civil engineering. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 91 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $78,142 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,392 to complete this degree.
Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of California Berkeley
Texas A And M University College Station is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 226 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $75,793 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full civil engineering program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Students looking for a strong civil engineering program will find one at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #3. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 33 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $89,327 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
See the full civil engineering program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Students looking for a strong civil engineering program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 44 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $80,261 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,750.
Read more about the civil engineering program at Cornell University
A rank of #5 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the top schools for civil engineering. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 164 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $80,673. Typical student debt for the program is $20,424.
Get the full civil engineering details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Southern California came in at #6 for civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $85,262. Typical student debt for the program is $8,125.
Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of Southern California
University Of California Irvine ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 81 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $73,835 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,700 to complete this degree.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of California Irvine
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #8 spot for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 154 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $73,357. Typical student debt for the program is $14,874.
Get the full civil engineering details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Northwestern University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 25 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #10 spot for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 173 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $73,397. Typical student debt for the program is $19,054.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #11 for civil engineering this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school 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 121 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $75,153 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,030.
Get the full civil engineering details for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #12 position for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 86 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $75,510. Students borrow a median of $19,444 to complete this degree.
Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of California Los Angeles
University Of California Davis earned the #13 position for civil engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 150 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $75,165 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,101 to complete this degree.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of California Davis
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #14 for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 216 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $74,369. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in civil engineering from Purdue University Main Campus
San Diego State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best civil engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 152 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from San Diego State University earn around $73,584 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,832.
Read more about the civil engineering program at San Diego State University
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #16 for civil engineering this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 87 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $76,731 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,437.
More information about a degree in civil engineering from University Of Maryland College Park
San Jose State University earned the #17 position for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 102 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the civil engineering program at San Jose State University
Duke University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Civil Engineering graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
Read more about the civil engineering program at Duke University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best civil engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pomona. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 232 civil engineering degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Civil Engineering graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $75,758 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
See the full civil engineering program report for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
University Of California San Diego ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best civil engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California San Diego awarded about 148 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $65,478 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,400 to complete this degree.
Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of California San Diego
Santa Clara University came in at #21 for civil engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 28 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $84,883 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
See the full civil engineering program report for Santa Clara University
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #22 spot for civil engineering this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 42 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $74,772 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $14,903 in student loans.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Northeastern University landed the #23 spot for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Northeastern University awarded about 110 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $76,362. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans.
See the full civil engineering program report for Northeastern University
Tufts University came in at #24 for civil engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $68,154 in their early career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
Get the full civil engineering details for Tufts University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 110 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $75,688. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,957 in student loans.
More information about a degree in civil engineering from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Civil Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong civil engineering education:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for civil engineering:
- #51 — Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI
- #52 — Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY
- #53 — Rutgers University New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ
- #54 — University Of Cincinnati Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH
- #55 — Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art · New York, NY
- #56 — Arizona State University · Tempe, AZ
- #57 — University Of Arizona · Tucson, AZ
- #58 — George Washington University · Washington, DC
- #59 — Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA
- #60 — Iowa State University · Ames, IA
Other Civil Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Civil Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All Civil Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 252 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.