by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 11 U.S. colleges awarded 40 degrees and certificates in Water Resources Engineering. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 90% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Water Resources Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $70,820 one year after completing, rising to $87,870 after four years.
A major in Water Resources Engineering covers Water Resources Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems For Collecting, Storing, Moving, Conserving And Controlling Surface- And Groundwater, Including Water Quality Control, Water Cycle Management, Management Of Human And Industrial Water Requirements, Water Delivery, And Flood Control.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, water resources engineering is a popular field of study, with 40 degrees awarded annually. 11 colleges award water resources engineering degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 14.
By level, the 40 awards include 2 bachelor’s degrees, 36 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 50% of water resources engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (20 of 40). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (23) and Hispanic or Latino (4), and international students earned 6.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Water Resources Engineering Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks water resources engineering schools within 1 state. In all, 11 colleges offer water resources engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Water Resources Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common water resources engineering credential is the master’s degree: 36 of the 40 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to water resources engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a water resources engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 36 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to water resources engineering, at 40.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 23.2% |
| Master’s degree | 12.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Water Resources Engineering, with an average median salary of $91,816; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Engineer, Project Engineer, Mechanical Drawing Teacher and Engineering Professor.
The occupation related to water resources engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Transportation Engineers | 392,941 | 1.1% |
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | 383,114 | 5.6% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Civil Engineers | 278,890 | 11.7% |
Water Resources Engineering graduates earn a median $70,820 one year after completing their program, $87,870 after four years and $88,477 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $70,820 |
| 4 years | $87,870 |
| 5 years | $88,477 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to water resources engineering is Engineers, All Other, with a median salary of $136,628.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Transportation Engineers | $120,210 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
Water Resources Engineering has 5 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 19,816 degrees a year; the largest are Civil Engineering, General (19,082), Structural Engineering (385) and Civil Engineering, Other (208). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering, General | 19,082 |
| Structural Engineering | 385 |
| Civil Engineering, Other | 208 |
| Transportation and Highway Engineering | 122 |
| Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering | 19 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
