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Civil Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Civil engineering is a foundational discipline focused on the design, construction, and maintenance of the built and natural environments that support modern society. It integrates advanced mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering principles to solve complex challenges related to infrastructure, sustainability, and public safety.

  • Structural Engineering: The analysis and design of load-bearing systems such as buildings, bridges, and towers to ensure stability, strength, and durability under various forces.
  • Transportation Systems: Planning, design, and management of roadways, railways, airports, and transit networks to optimize mobility, safety, and efficiency.
  • Water Resources Engineering: The study and application of hydrology, hydraulics, and fluid dynamics to manage water supply, flood control, drainage, and irrigation systems.
  • Geotechnical Engineering: Investigation of soil and rock behavior to support foundation design, earth retention structures, and slope stability assessments.
  • Construction Engineering: Application of engineering and management principles to the planning, execution, and oversight of construction projects, emphasizing cost, time, and quality control.
  • Environmental Engineering: Integration of engineering practices with environmental science to develop systems that protect ecosystems, ensure clean water, and manage waste and pollution.
  • Materials Engineering: Evaluation and selection of construction materials—such as concrete, steel, and composites—based on performance, durability, and sustainability criteria.
  • Systems Integration and Safety: Assessment of operational performance and risk mitigation across infrastructure networks to enhance resilience and long-term safety standards.

Civil Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

19,293
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
305
Universities & Colleges
3
Career Pathways

Civil Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Civil Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary and Civil Engineers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 605,660 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 $167,740 $111,450 - $239,200 210,340 $80.64
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 $106,120 $59,790 - $200,650 39,910 N/A
Civil Engineers 17-2051 $99,590 $65,920 - $160,990 355,410 $47.88

Salary Comparison

Civil Engineering Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $105,927 in Arkansas to $149,800 in California—a 41% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Mexico, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 605,660 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Civil Engineering by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Civil Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Civil Engineering is found at University of California (UCB), Berkeley (358 graduates), Texas A & M University, College Station (358 graduates), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) (340 graduates), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (327 graduates), and Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (314 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 13,586 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Admissions Location Control Website
University of California (UCB)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
358 N/A Berkeley, California Public berkeley.edu
Texas A & M University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
358 SAT: 1140-1380
ACT: 25-31
College Station, Texas Public tamu.edu
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
340 SAT: 1240-1420
ACT: 27-32
Blacksburg, Virginia Public vt.edu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
327 SAT: 1270-1510
ACT: 29-34
Champaign, Illinois Public illinois.edu
Purdue University (PU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
314 SAT: 1190-1460
ACT: 27-34
West Lafayette, Indiana Public purdue.edu
California State Polytechnic University (CPP)
Bachelor's
Master's
285 N/A Pomona, California Public cpp.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
279 SAT: 990-1230
ACT: 18-26
Arlington, Texas Public uta.edu
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
259 SAT: 1210-1470
ACT: 25-32
Newark, New Jersey Public njit.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
232 SAT: 1230-1490
ACT: 27-33
Austin, Texas Public utexas.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
217 SAT: 1330-1530
ACT: 28-34
Atlanta, Georgia Public gatech.edu
Stanford University
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
215 SAT: 1510-1580
ACT: 34-35
Stanford, California Private stanford.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
199 SAT: 1220-1400
ACT: 27-32
University Park, Pennsylvania Public psu.edu
North Carolina State University (NC State)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
198 SAT: 1300-1460
ACT: 28-32
Raleigh, North Carolina Public ncsu.edu
Clemson University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
192 SAT: 1230-1390
ACT: 28-32
Clemson, South Carolina Public clemson.edu
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
183 N/A Tempe, Arizona Public asu.edu
University of California (UCLA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
179 N/A Los Angeles, California Public ucla.edu
University of Central Florida (UCF)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
178 SAT: 1190-1350
ACT: 25-29
Orlando, Florida Public ucf.edu
Texas Tech University (TTU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
178 SAT: 1090-1270
ACT: 22-28
Lubbock, Texas Public ttu.edu
University of California (UCD)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
169 N/A Davis, California Public ucdavis.edu
University of Washington (UW)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
169 N/A Seattle, Washington Public washington.edu
California State University
Bachelor's
Master's
168 N/A Sacramento, California Public csus.edu
Florida International University (FIU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
168 SAT: 1060-1250
ACT: 20-26
Miami, Florida Public fiu.edu
University of Florida (UF)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
168 SAT: 1300-1480
ACT: 28-33
Gainesville, Florida Public ufl.edu
California State University (CSULB)
Bachelor's
Master's
167 N/A Long Beach, California Public csulb.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
166 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 27-32
Buffalo, New York Public buffalo.edu
San Diego State University (SDSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
160 N/A San Diego, California Public sdsu.edu
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
160 SAT: 1150-1378
ACT: 25-31
Rolla, Missouri Public mst.edu
Ohio State University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
155 SAT: 1330-1480
ACT: 29-32
Columbus, Ohio Public osu.edu
Auburn University (AU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
153 SAT: 1240-1380
ACT: 25-31
Auburn, Alabama Public auburn.edu
Oregon State University (OSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
150 N/A Corvallis, Oregon Public oregonstate.edu
Florida State University (FSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
148 SAT: 1240-1390
ACT: 27-31
Tallahassee, Florida Public fsu.edu
Iowa State University (ISU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
148 SAT: 1110-1350
ACT: 21-28
Ames, Iowa Public iastate.edu
University of Maryland (UMCP)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
147 SAT: 1370-1520
ACT: 32-35
College Park, Maryland Public umd.edu
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
146 SAT: 1490-1570
ACT: 34-35
New York, New York Private columbia.edu
The University of Tennessee
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
142 SAT: 1190-1340
ACT: 25-31
Knoxville, Tennessee Public utk.edu
Northeastern University (NU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
137 SAT: 1460-1550
ACT: 33-35
Boston, Massachusetts Private northeastern.edu
University of New Haven (UNH)
Bachelor's
Master's
136 SAT: 1090-1260 West Haven, Connecticut Private newhaven.edu
San Jose State University (SJSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
132 N/A San Jose, California Public sjsu.edu
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
132 SAT: 1120-1340
ACT: 25-32
Chicago, Illinois Public uic.edu
University of Massachusetts
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
131 SAT: 1300-1480
ACT: 29-33
Amherst, Massachusetts Public umass.edu
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
130 SAT: 1110-1320
ACT: 21-27
Charlotte, North Carolina Public charlotte.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
129 SAT: 1360-1510
ACT: 28-32
Madison, Wisconsin Public wisc.edu
The University of Alabama (UA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
127 SAT: 1170-1400
ACT: 24-31
Tuscaloosa, Alabama Public ua.edu
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
Bachelor's
126 N/A San Luis Obispo, California Public calpoly.edu
University of Colorado Boulder (CU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
126 SAT: 1230-1420
ACT: 28-33
Boulder, Colorado Public colorado.edu
Mississippi State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
123 SAT: 1110-1410
ACT: 21-29
Mississippi State, Mississippi Public msstate.edu
Michigan State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
117 SAT: 1150-1350
ACT: 26-31
East Lansing, Michigan Public msu.edu
Colorado State University (CSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
113 N/A Fort Collins, Colorado Public colostate.edu
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
Bachelor's
Master's
113 SAT: 910-1110
ACT: 16-22
Edinburg, Texas Public utrgv.edu
California State University (CSUF)
Bachelor's
Master's
112 N/A Fullerton, California Public fullerton.edu
University of Cincinnati (UC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
112 SAT: 1150-1360
ACT: 24-29
Cincinnati, Ohio Public uc.edu
Kennesaw State University (KSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
112 SAT: 1020-1220
ACT: 19-25
Kennesaw, Georgia Public kennesaw.edu
University of South Florida (USF)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
111 SAT: 1140-1330
ACT: 24-29
Tampa, Florida Public usf.edu
George Mason University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
109 SAT: 1140-1340
ACT: 25-30
Fairfax, Virginia Public www2.gmu.edu
Manhattan College
Bachelor's
Master's
108 SAT: 1150-1340
ACT: 22-31
Riverdale, New York Private manhattan.edu
The University of Texas (UTSA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
107 SAT: 1000-1200
ACT: 19-26
San Antonio, Texas Public utsa.edu
Colorado School of Mines
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
105 SAT: 1320-1470
ACT: 29-33
Golden, Colorado Public mines.edu
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
105 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 24-29
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Public lsu.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
104 SAT: 1290-1450
ACT: 28-32
Provo, Utah Private byu.edu
Washington State University (WSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
104 N/A Pullman, Washington Public wsu.edu
University of Delaware (UD)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
102 SAT: 1200-1360
ACT: 27-31
Newark, Delaware Public udel.edu
University of California (UCI)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
100 N/A Irvine, California Public uci.edu
University of Michigan (U‑M)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
100 SAT: 1350-1530
ACT: 31-34
Ann Arbor, Michigan Public umich.edu
University of Hawaii (UHM)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
98 SAT: 1020-1240
ACT: 20-27
Honolulu, Hawaii Public manoa.hawaii.edu
University of Nevada (UNLV)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
98 SAT: 980-1230
ACT: 18-24
Las Vegas, Nevada Public unlv.edu
University of South Carolina (USC)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
98 SAT: 1180-1380
ACT: 26-32
Columbia, South Carolina Public sc.edu
University of Houston (UH)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
98 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 23-28
Houston, Texas Public uh.edu
California State University
Bachelor's
Master's
97 N/A Los Angeles, California Public calstatela.edu
University of Nebraska (UNL)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
97 SAT: 1090-1330
ACT: 22-28
Lincoln, Nebraska Public unl.edu
University of Nevada (UNR)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
96 N/A Reno, Nevada Public unr.edu
Michigan Technological University (MTU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
94 SAT: 1120-1330
ACT: 25-31
Houghton, Michigan Public mtu.edu
University of Missouri (Mizzou)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
93 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 23-29
Columbia, Missouri Public missouri.edu
The University of Texas (UTEP)
Bachelor's
Master's
93 SAT: 870-1090
ACT: 17-23
El Paso, Texas Public utep.edu
Rutgers University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
92 SAT: 1270-1480
ACT: 28-33
New Brunswick, New Jersey Public newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
California State University
Bachelor's
Master's
91 N/A Fresno, California Public fresnostate.edu
University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
91 SAT: 1270-1450
ACT: 29-33
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Public pitt.edu
University of Kentucky (UK)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
89 SAT: 1080-1290
ACT: 21-28
Lexington, Kentucky Public uky.edu
California State University (CSUN)
Bachelor's
88 N/A Northridge, California Public csun.edu
University of Massachusetts
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
88 SAT: 1180-1350
ACT: 26-30
Lowell, Massachusetts Public uml.edu
University of Oklahoma (OU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
87 SAT: 1140-1330
ACT: 23-29
Norman, Oklahoma Public ou.edu
University of Utah (U of U)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
85 SAT: 1180-1398
ACT: 22-29
Salt Lake City, Utah Public utah.edu
University of Connecticut (UConn)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
83 SAT: 1210-1420
ACT: 29-33
Storrs, Connecticut Public uconn.edu
New Mexico State University (NMSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
83 SAT: 885-1110
ACT: 17-24
Las Cruces, New Mexico Public nmsu.edu
Villanova University
Bachelor's
Master's
82 SAT: 1400-1510
ACT: 32-34
Villanova, Pennsylvania Private villanova.edu
New York University (NYU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
81 SAT: 1480-1570
ACT: 33-35
New York, New York Private nyu.edu
University of Dayton (UD)
Bachelor's
Master's
81 SAT: 1195-1370
ACT: 26-31
Dayton, Ohio Private udayton.edu
Utah State University (USU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
81 SAT: 1060-1300
ACT: 20-28
Logan, Utah Public usu.edu
Northwestern University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
79 SAT: 1490-1560
ACT: 33-35
Evanston, Illinois Private northwestern.edu
Cornell University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
79 SAT: 1480-1560
ACT: 33-35
Ithaca, New York Private cornell.edu
West Virginia University (WVU)
Bachelor's
Master's
78 SAT: 1010-1240
ACT: 20-26
Morgantown, West Virginia Public wvu.edu
University of Kansas (KU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
77 SAT: 1050-1290
ACT: 21-27
Lawrence, Kansas Public ku.edu
Cleveland State University (CSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
77 ACT: 17-25 Cleveland, Ohio Public csuohio.edu
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
77 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-35
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private cmu.edu
University of Virginia (UVA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
76 SAT: 1410-1530
ACT: 32-34
Charlottesville, Virginia Public virginia.edu
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
75 SAT: 980-1220
ACT: 21-27
Denver, Colorado Public ucdenver.edu
Boise State University (BBU)
Bachelor's
Master's
75 N/A Boise, Idaho Public boisestate.edu
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Bachelor's
75 ACT: 21-27 Platteville, Wisconsin Public uwplatt.edu
University of North Florida (UNF)
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
72 SAT: 990-1210
ACT: 20-26
Jacksonville, Florida Public unf.edu
Southern Illinois University (SIUE)
Bachelor's
Master's
72 SAT: 900-1160
ACT: 20-26
Edwardsville, Illinois Public siue.edu
Montana State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
72 SAT: 1060-1270
ACT: 20-27
Bozeman, Montana Public montana.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Civil Engineering programs

How much can I earn with a Civil Engineering degree?

Salaries for Civil Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $106,120. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $149,800 compared to $105,927 in Arkansas. Approximately 605,660 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Civil Engineering programs?

Currently 305 accredited institutions offer Civil Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCB), Berkeley (358 graduates), Texas A & M University, College Station (358 graduates), and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) (340 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Civil Engineering growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 15,992 in 2010 to a peak of 20,912 in 2020, before declining slightly to 19,293 in 2023-24. This represents a 21% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Civil Engineering degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, and Civil Engineers. Related occupations employ approximately 605,660 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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