by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 50 U.S. colleges awarded 1,591 degrees and certificates in Construction Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 35 schools in its 2027 Best Construction Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $78,190 one year after completing, rising to $100,158 after four years.
Have you ever walked around a large city and been in awe of the buildings? Do you have an eye for interesting structures? A major in Construction Engineering will allow you to pursue your interest in building magnificent structures.
Construction Engineers lead building projects. They analyze building location, choose materials, and manage the project from start to finish. In school, students take classes in civil engineering, mathematics, computer-assisted design, geology, project management, graphic communications, and business law to acquire the skills to lead the building of large structures.
A degree in Construction Engineering covers Construction Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, construction engineering is a popular field of study, with 1,591 degrees awarded annually. 50 colleges award construction engineering degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 357.
By level, the 1,591 awards include 866 bachelor’s degrees, 720 master’s degrees and 5 doctorates.
Women earned 21% of construction engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (331 of 1,591). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (637) and Hispanic or Latino (228), and international students earned 548.
College Factual ranks 35 schools in its 2027 Best Construction Engineering Schools ranking, including 22 for bachelor’s degrees and 15 for master’s degrees. It also ranks construction engineering schools within 16 states. In all, 50 colleges offer construction engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Construction Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common construction engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 866 of the 1,591 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to construction 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 Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Project management and leadership skills are required for those interested in pursuing a career in Construction Engineering. You will take the lead on building projects, so you must be able to delegate responsibilities, communicate necessary tasks, and ensure the project is advancing towards completion without any issues. Problem solving and decision making skills will help you foresee any issues and adjust plans to avoid problems while still successfully finishing the project.
Construction engineers split their time between an office setting and working on a building site. Work in the office allows engineers to layout their plans and make final decisions on building materials and site location before beginning construction. This career is a fulltime job and due to work under contracts, overtime is common to ensure deadlines are met.
No matter what type of degree you decide to get, in order to practice, you must be licensed by the state. It is best to check with the state you intend to work in to ensure you are fulfilling all requirements to obtain a license.
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How long a construction engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 866 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 720 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to construction engineering, at 41.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 22.8% |
| Master’s degree | 11.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Construction Engineering, with an average median salary of $91,883; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Engineer, Project Engineer, Ship Design Teacher and Electrical Engineering Teacher.
While a degree in Construction Engineering will lead to a career building structures and leading projects, graduates have decided to follow different paths into numerous construction and engineering companies. Others have decided to become self-employed and work to receive contractual work.
Due to aging structures and continual growth of cities, there will constantly be a demand for Construction Engineering graduates.
The occupation related to construction 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% |
Construction Engineering graduates earn a median $78,190 one year after completing their program, $100,158 after four years and $102,993 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,190 |
| 4 years | $100,158 |
| 5 years | $102,993 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to construction 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 |
Construction Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Construction Engineering (1,591). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 201,444 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Construction Engineering | 1,591 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
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