Best colleges for Construction Engineering
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Construction Engineering by graduate earnings are Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($82,627), Oregon State University ($80,936) and Iowa State University ($77,845), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA): $82,627, 47 graduates a year
- Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR): $80,936, 79 graduates a year
- Iowa State University (Ames, IA): $77,845, 52 graduates a year
- Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN): $76,966, 31 graduates a year
- Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX): $75,421, 24 graduates a year
Compare 50 U.S. colleges offering Construction Engineering by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 32 states.
Construction Engineering programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $75,421 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 14.33 and the Civil Engineers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Construction Engineering programs
The Construction Engineering program focuses on the application of engineering principles to the construction industry. It prepares students to design, manage, and oversee construction projects, ensuring they meet safety and regulatory standards. This program is ideal for individuals interested in combining technical skills with practical problem-solving in a dynamic environment.
Students in the Construction Engineering program gain core knowledge in design, building and construction, and engineering technology. Coursework emphasizes critical skills such as mathematics, science, and effective communication, equipping graduates to tackle complex engineering challenges.
Top 12 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,627 | 47 | 86% | — | $26,698 |
| 2 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,936 | 79 | 70% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,845 | 52 | 75% | — | $20,500 |
| 4 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,966 | 31 | 83% | — | $24,250 |
| 5 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,421 | 24 | 69% | — | $24,098 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,613 | 357 | 54% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,751 | 62 | 75% | — | $25,480 |
| 8 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,146 | 43 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $76,574 | 19 | 85% | — | $25,147 |
| 10 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $74,445 | 17 | 68% | — | — |
| 11 | Bradley University Peoria, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $71,053 | 17 | 76% | $21,768 | — |
| 12 | East Texas A&M University Commerce, TX Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $70,457 | 14 | 43% | — | — |
Specializations within Construction Engineering
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 14.33 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 32 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginialimited | 1 | $82,627 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | $80,936 | Oregon State University |
| Iowalimited | 1 | $77,845 | Iowa State University |
| Indianalimited | 1 | $76,966 | Purdue University |
| North Carolinalimited | 2 | $76,574 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh |
| Arizonalimited | 1 | $74,445 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion |
| Texas | 6 | $72,613 | Texas Tech University |
| Ohio | 4 | $71,751 | University of Cincinnati |
| Illinois | 3 | $71,053 | Bradley University |
| Alabamalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Arkansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Californialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Delawarelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Floridalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Hawaiilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Mainelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Missourilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Nebraskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Hampshirelimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 1 | — | — |
| New York | 5 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Pennsylvanialimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2051, Civil Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Construction Engineering program can expect a favorable job outlook, with a projected growth rate of 5% and approximately 23,600 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $99,590, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Construction Engineering
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.33.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.33 (Construction Engineering) maps to 5 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 13-1051 | Cost Estimators |
| 17-2051 | Civil Engineersprimary |
| 17-2199 | Engineers, All Other |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Construction Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
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.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Construction Engineering program?+
The program focuses on applying engineering principles to manage and oversee construction projects.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Students will develop skills in design, mathematics, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for construction engineers?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5% and about 23,600 annual openings.
What is the typical salary for construction engineers?+
The median wage for construction engineers is $99,590.
How much do Construction Engineering graduates earn?+
Construction Engineering graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $75,421, College Scorecard (2019); the Civil Engineers occupation pays about $108,670 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Construction Engineering?+
Construction Engineering maps to CIP 14.33 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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