Best colleges for Civil Engineering in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Northeastern University and Merrimack College are the top bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Worcester Polytechnic Institute leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $76,419, College Scorecard. Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts-Lowell and University of Massachusetts-Amherst award the most Civil Engineering degrees in Massachusetts: 166, 91 and 84 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 Massachusetts colleges offer Civil Engineering and award 685 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Civil Engineering program focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and water supply systems. This program is ideal for students interested in applying engineering…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,419 | 71 | 90% | $32,926 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,362 | 166 | 91% | $18,925 | $24,750 |
| 3 | Merrimack College North Andover Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,556 | 23 | 70% | $33,877 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,001 | 61 | 68% | $32,713 | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,757 | 84 | 83% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Western New England University Springfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,726 | 77 | 64% | $29,327 | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,103 | 91 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,158 | 26 | 52% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Civil Engineering degrees in Massachusetts
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 166 | $76,362 |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public | 91 | $65,103 |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 84 | $69,757 |
| 4 | Western New England University Springfield Private not-for-profit | 77 | $67,726 |
| 5 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Private not-for-profit | 71 | $76,419 |
| 6 | Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston Private not-for-profit | 61 | $75,001 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 43 | Not reported |
| 8 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 43 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth Public | 26 | $63,158 |
| 10 | Merrimack College North Andover Private not-for-profit | 23 | $75,556 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Top skills
What Civil Engineers earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Civil Engineering programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Civil Engineering degrees?+
Northeastern University (166 graduates a year), University of Massachusetts-Lowell (91 graduates a year) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst (84 graduates a year) award the most Civil Engineering degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 Massachusetts colleges offer Civil Engineering.
What is the best college for Civil Engineering in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Worcester Polytechnic Institute leads among bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $76,419, College Scorecard. Northeastern University and Merrimack College follow. By degrees awarded, Northeastern University is the largest, with 166 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Civil Engineering program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Worcester Polytechnic Institute tops the list at $76,419. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Civil Engineers earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Civil Engineers in Massachusetts is $117,330 (median $106,730), across about 9,450 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Civil Engineering program?+
The Civil Engineering program focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and water supply systems. This program is ideal for students interested in applying engineering…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Civil Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +5.0% growth with around 23,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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