Best institutions to study Surveying Engineering
Compare 16 U.S. colleges offering Surveying Engineering by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 10 states.
Surveying Engineering programs report a median of $72,931 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 14.38 and the Surveyors occupation (BLS SOC).
About Surveying Engineering programs
The Surveying Engineering program focuses on the principles and practices of surveying, which is essential for establishing legal boundaries for properties. This program is ideal for students interested in combining mathematics, technology, and legal knowledge to create accurate representations of land and property. Graduates will play a critical role in the planning and development of infrastructure and land use.
Students in the Surveying Engineering program will gain core skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and engineering technology. Coursework typically includes topics such as geography, design, and the use of computers and electronics to prepare and maintain maps, sketches, and legal descriptions.
Top 1 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,931 | 7 | 47% | — | — |
Offered across 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michiganlimited | 2 | $72,931 | Ferris State University |
| Floridalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Mainelimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 1 | — | — |
| North Carolinalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Pennsylvanialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Texaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| Virginia | 4 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-1022, Surveyors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Surveying Engineering program can expect a career outlook that is about as fast as average, with an annual opening of approximately 3,900 positions. The median wage for surveying engineers is $72,740, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Surveying Engineering
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.38.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.38 (Surveying 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 |
| 17-1021 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists |
| 17-1022 | Surveyorsprimary |
| 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 Surveying 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 or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
- Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
- Write descriptions of property boundary surveys for use in deeds, leases, or other legal documents.
- Verify the accuracy of survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites.
- Search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed.
- Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features.
Concentrations within Surveying Engineering
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Surveying EngineeringCIP 14.3801
A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the determination of the location, elevations, and alignment of natural and manmade topographic features
Common questions
What is Surveying Engineering?+
Surveying Engineering involves the measurement and mapping of land to establish legal property boundaries.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and engineering technology, along with knowledge in geography and design.
What is the job outlook for surveying engineers?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with approximately 3,900 annual openings.
What is the typical salary for a surveying engineer?+
The median wage for surveying engineers is $72,740.
How much do Surveying Engineering graduates earn?+
Surveying Engineering graduates report median earnings of $72,931 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Surveyors occupation pays about $80,570 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Surveying Engineering?+
Surveying Engineering maps to CIP 14.38 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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