Best colleges for Civil Engineering in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
North Carolina A & T State University, North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina at Charlotte are the top bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. North Carolina A & T State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $70,474, College Scorecard. North Carolina State University at Raleigh, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Duke University award the most Civil Engineering degrees in North Carolina: 200, 123 and 38 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 North Carolina colleges offer Civil Engineering and award 397 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 3 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 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,474 | 36 | 57% | — | $31,000 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,346 | 200 | 85% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,934 | 123 | 69% | — | $23,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Civil Engineering degrees in North Carolina
Top 4 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 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 200 | $70,346 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 123 | $67,934 |
| 3 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 38 | Not reported |
| 4 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public | 36 | $70,474 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Top skills
What Civil Engineers earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Civil Engineering programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Civil Engineering degrees?+
North Carolina State University at Raleigh (200 graduates a year), University of North Carolina at Charlotte (123 graduates a year) and Duke University (38 graduates a year) award the most Civil Engineering degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 North Carolina colleges offer Civil Engineering.
What is the best college for Civil Engineering in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, North Carolina A & T State University leads among bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $70,474, College Scorecard. North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina at Charlotte follow. By degrees awarded, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is the largest, with 200 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Civil Engineering program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, North Carolina A & T State University tops the list at $70,474. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Civil Engineers earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Civil Engineers in North Carolina is $104,760 (median $100,730), across about 12,810 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card