Best colleges for Civil Engineering in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
George Mason University, University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are the top bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. George Mason University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $75,822, College Scorecard. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, George Mason University and University of Virginia award the most Civil Engineering degrees in Virginia: 334, 130 and 72 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 Virginia 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 5 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 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,822 | 130 | 68% | — | $23,812 |
| 2 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,772 | 72 | 96% | — | $14,903 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,285 | 334 | 86% | — | $25,760 |
| 4 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,246 | 34 | 46% | — | $25,000 |
| 5 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $61,547 | 37 | 76% | — | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Civil Engineering degrees in Virginia
Top 6 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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 334 | $74,285 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 130 | $75,822 |
| 3 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 72 | $74,772 |
| 4 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 39 | Not reported |
| 5 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public | 37 | $61,547 |
| 6 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 34 | $64,246 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Top skills
What Civil Engineers earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Civil Engineering programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Civil Engineering degrees?+
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (334 graduates a year), George Mason University (130 graduates a year) and University of Virginia (72 graduates a year) award the most Civil Engineering degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 Virginia colleges offer Civil Engineering.
What is the best college for Civil Engineering in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, George Mason University leads among bachelor's Civil Engineering programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $75,822, College Scorecard. University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University follow. By degrees awarded, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is the largest, with 334 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Civil Engineering program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, George Mason University tops the list at $75,822. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Civil Engineers earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Civil Engineers in Virginia is $105,340 (median $97,120), across about 11,350 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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