Best colleges for Civil Engineering in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lawrence Technological University, Wayne State University and Michigan State University are the top bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Lawrence Technological University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,836, College Scorecard. Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor award the most Civil Engineering degrees in Michigan: 140, 116 and 75 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Michigan colleges offer Civil Engineering and award 468 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 6 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 | Lawrence Technological University Southfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,836 | 25 | 61% | $32,679 | $30,197 |
| 2 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,488 | 58 | 58% | — | $30,548 |
| 3 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,048 | 140 | 81% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Michigan Technological University Houghton Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,928 | 116 | 68% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,706 | 37 | 58% | — | $29,156 |
| 6 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,764 | 75 | 93% | — | $18,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Civil Engineering degrees in Michigan
Top 8 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 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 140 | $72,048 |
| 2 | Michigan Technological University Houghton Public | 116 | $70,928 |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 75 | $67,764 |
| 4 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 58 | $73,488 |
| 5 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 37 | $69,706 |
| 6 | Lawrence Technological University Southfield Private not-for-profit | 25 | $77,836 |
| 7 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 8 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 5 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Top skills
What Civil Engineers earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Civil Engineering programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Civil Engineering degrees?+
Michigan State University (140 graduates a year), Michigan Technological University (116 graduates a year) and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (75 graduates a year) award the most Civil Engineering degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Michigan colleges offer Civil Engineering.
What is the best college for Civil Engineering in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Lawrence Technological University leads among bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,836, College Scorecard. Wayne State University and Michigan State University follow. By degrees awarded, Michigan State University is the largest, with 140 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Civil Engineering program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lawrence Technological University tops the list at $77,836. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Civil Engineers earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Civil Engineers in Michigan is $94,870 (median $92,100), across about 7,760 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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