Best institutions to study Civil Engineering
Any instructional program in civil engineering not listed above.
16 U.S. institutions graduated 207 Civil Engineering students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 14.0899, a specialization of Civil Engineering (CIP 14.08), and leads most directly to the Civil Engineers occupation (BLS SOC 17-2051).
About Civil Engineering programs
Any instructional program in civil engineering not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Civil Engineering program focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects. It is ideal for students interested in applying engineering principles to solve real-world problems related to buildings, roads, bridges, and other essential structures. This program encompasses various aspects of civil engineering not specifically categorized elsewhere.
Students in this program will develop core skills in design, mathematics, and physics, along with knowledge of engineering technology and construction practices. Coursework typically includes active learning opportunities that enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication.
Credentials awarded
What Civil Engineering graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree119 graduates / yr · 11 institutions58%
- Bachelor's degree50 graduates / yr · 5 institutions24%
- Associate's degree16 graduates / yr · 1 institution7.7%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship15 graduates / yr · 3 institutions7.2%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.4%
Graduates over time
Civil Engineering completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 46 |
| 2013 | 43 |
| 2014 | 40 |
| 2015 | 58 |
| 2016 | 53 |
| 2017 | 54 |
| 2018 | 92 |
| 2019 | 129 |
| 2020 | 116 |
| 2021 | 131 |
| 2022 | 131 |
| 2023 | 162 |
| 2024 | 172 |
| 2025 | 207 |
Top 16 institutions for Civil Engineering, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western New England University Springfield, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 51 | 64% | $29,327 | $67,726 |
| 2 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 26 | 67% | $38,899 | — |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicMaster's | 25 | 86% | — | $80,673 |
| 4 | Holmes Community College Goodman, MSPublicAssociate's | 16 | 39% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 15 | 85% | — | $73,357 |
| 6 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 14 | 95% | $19,452 | $74,499 |
| 7 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 12 | 68% | — | $69,655 |
| 8 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 12 | 90% | $32,926 | $76,419 |
| 9 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 86% | — | $75,165 |
| 10 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 11 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 92% | $26,873 | $85,262 |
| 12 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 91% | $18,925 | $76,362 |
| 13 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor's | 4 | 55% | — | $54,248 |
| 14 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 85% | — | $66,943 |
| 15 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 75% | $19,899 | $71,760 |
| 16 | William Penn University Oskaloosa, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 33% | $21,533 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Civil Engineering field (CIP 14.08) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 11 states
Where Civil Engineering graduates come from. Each state links to all Civil Engineering programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 3 | 68 | Western New England University51 / yr |
| California | 3 | 39 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo25 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 26 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach26 / yr |
| Mississippi | 1 | 16 | Holmes Community College16 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 15 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus15 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 14 | University of Notre Dame14 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 12 | University of Arizona12 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 11 | Carnegie Mellon University7 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 4 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus4 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | Illinois Institute of Technology1 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 1 | William Penn University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2051, Civil Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Civil Engineering program can pursue careers as Civil Engineers, with an expected job growth rate of 5% and approximately 23,600 annual openings. The median wage for civil engineers is $99,590, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 14.0899
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Civil Engineersprimary SOC 17-2051 | $100,840 | +5.0% Faster than average | ~23,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC 11-9041 | $171,270 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~14,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1032 | $109,270 | +8.1% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Civil Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
- Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
- Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
- Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
Tools and technology used
Other Civil Engineering specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Civil Engineering (CIP 14.08).
- Civil EngineeringCIP 14.080119,047 graduates / yr307 institutions
- Structural EngineeringCIP 14.0803385 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Transportation and Highway EngineeringCIP 14.0804122 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Water Resources EngineeringCIP 14.080540 graduates / yr11 institutions
- Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental EngineeringCIP 14.0802partial data19 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Associate's, or Doctor's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What are the career options after graduation?+
You can work as a Civil Engineer, Architectural and Engineering Manager, or Engineering Teacher.
What is the job outlook for civil engineers?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5%.
What is the CIP code for Civil Engineering?+
Civil Engineering is CIP 14.0899 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Civil Engineering (CIP 14.08). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in civil engineering not listed above.
How many institutions offer Civil Engineering programs?+
16 U.S. institutions reported Civil Engineering graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 207 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all Civil Engineering graduates.
How much do Civil Engineering graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Civil Engineers occupation, which Civil Engineering most directly leads to, pays a median of $100,840 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Civil Engineering field report median earnings of $74,499 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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