Best colleges for Civil Engineering in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Case Western Reserve University, University of Dayton and University of Cincinnati are the top bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Case Western Reserve University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,266, College Scorecard. Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati and University of Dayton award the most Civil Engineering degrees in Ohio: 156, 99 and 99 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Ohio colleges offer Civil Engineering and award 646 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 10 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 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,266 | 29 | 87% | $27,976 | $25,190 |
| 2 | University of Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,411 | 99 | 80% | $28,560 | $26,500 |
| 3 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,377 | 99 | 75% | — | $24,500 |
| 4 | University of Toledo Toledo Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,388 | 48 | 57% | — | $20,500 |
| 5 | Ohio Northern University Ada Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,129 | 38 | 75% | $23,912 | $25,961 |
| 6 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,031 | 156 | 88% | — | $23,545 |
| 7 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,820 | 29 | 52% | — | $21,701 |
| 8 | Cleveland State University Cleveland Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,295 | 34 | 51% | — | $29,750 |
| 9 | Ohio University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,884 | 62 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,149 | 23 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Civil Engineering degrees in Ohio
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 | Ohio State University Columbus Public | 156 | $68,031 |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 99 | $71,377 |
| 3 | University of Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit | 99 | $71,411 |
| 4 | Ohio University Athens Public | 62 | $63,884 |
| 5 | University of Toledo Toledo Public | 48 | $70,388 |
| 6 | Ohio Northern University Ada Private not-for-profit | 38 | $68,129 |
| 7 | Cleveland State University Cleveland Public | 34 | $66,295 |
| 8 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron Public | 29 | $66,820 |
| 9 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 29 | $74,266 |
| 10 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public | 23 | $59,149 |
ShowHide the other 3 Ohio colleges offering Civil Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedarville University | Cedarville | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| University of Mount Union | Alliance | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Central State University | Wilberforce | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Top skills
What Civil Engineers earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Civil Engineering programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Civil Engineering degrees?+
Ohio State University (156 graduates a year), University of Cincinnati (99 graduates a year) and University of Dayton (99 graduates a year) award the most Civil Engineering degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Ohio colleges offer Civil Engineering.
What is the best college for Civil Engineering in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, Case Western Reserve University leads among bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,266, College Scorecard. University of Dayton and University of Cincinnati follow. By degrees awarded, Ohio State University is the largest, with 156 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Civil Engineering program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Case Western Reserve University tops the list at $74,266. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Civil Engineers earn in Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Civil Engineers in Ohio is $100,810 (median $96,220), across about 10,560 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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