Texas A & M University-College Station offers 12 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 904 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 687 Bachelor's degrees, 162 Master's degrees, 30 Doctoral degrees, and 25 Certificates.
University of Southern California offers 15 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 334 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 155 Bachelor's degrees, 148 Master's degrees, 16 Certificates, and 15 Doctoral degrees.
Iowa State University offers 9 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 317 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 223 Bachelor's degrees, 68 Master's degrees, 25 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Certificate.
Columbia University in the City of New York offers 9 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 352 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 303 Master's degrees, 28 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Doctoral degrees, and 10 Certificates.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers 15 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 411 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 223 Master's degrees, 165 Bachelor's degrees, and 23 Doctoral degrees.
University of Florida offers 14 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 377 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 235 Bachelor's degrees, 111 Master's degrees, 16 Doctoral degrees, and 15 Certificates.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers 3 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 367 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 180 Bachelor's degrees, 151 Master's degrees, and 36 Doctoral degrees.
New Jersey Institute of Technology offers 7 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 289 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 169 Bachelor's degrees, 101 Master's degrees, 13 Certificates, and 6 Doctoral degrees.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion offers 12 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 587 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 420 Bachelor's degrees, 140 Master's degrees, 25 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Certificates.
Ohio State University-Main Campus offers 6 Civil Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 239 Civil Engineering students graduated with students earning 189 Bachelor's degrees, 41 Master's degrees, and 9 Doctoral degrees.
Civil engineering is an engineering specialization that focuses on the design, development, and maintenance of vital infrastructure such as roads, bridges, pipelines, and sewage systems. Not only one of the oldest engineering disciplines, civil engineering is also one of the most popular engineering areas for STEM students.
While civil engineers are consistently in demand—the career is projected to grow by 7% over the next decade—recent headlines made it clear that civil engineers will be hard at work for the foreseeable future. In November 2021, President Joe Biden signed a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill into law, allocating billions for local and state governments to update aging infrastructure.
Throughout this page, we'll spotlight some of the best civil engineering schools in the country. In addition to standout schools, we'll look at what you can expect as you apply, enroll, and complete a civil engineering degree. Keep reading to see what the best civil engineering programs can do for you.
Whether online or on-campus, a civil engineering degree takes an interdisciplinary approach where you'll learn to apply various STEM topics to real-world infrastructure challenges. Students lean into essential topics in computer science, physics, materials sciences, mathematics, and engineering mechanics. In addition to STEM-heavy coursework, civil engineering degree-seekers also tackle project management, transportation systems, statistics, and engineering communication classes.
Civil engineering students can anticipate a 120-130 credit curriculum that typically takes about four years for full-time students to complete. Throughout an undergraduate program, you'll have the chance to focus your studies on specialization areas like water resources, structural, and transportation engineering.
When reviewing prospective civil engineering programs, you'll notice that academic requirements can differ depending on your chosen school. That said, there are some standard classes that you can expect to encounter. We spotlight some typical civil engineering classes below.
Civil engineering graduates do more than simply hone a unique set of skills that prepare them for their careers. Throughout their academic program, civil engineering grads lay the groundwork for jobs that involve the seriousness of public safety. We highlight some common skills learned in a civil engineering program listed below.
The time it takes to earn your civil engineering degree can vary dramatically and depends on multiple factors. We mentioned before that full-time students can complete a bachelor's degree in about four years, but if you're a part-time degree-seeker, it could take much longer. Additionally, students enrolling with an associate degree or prior undergraduate coursework can graduate before first-time civil engineering freshmen.
Students pursuing online programs often have the chance to complete their academic requirements faster than campus-based students. Alongside shorter terms, online programs typically offer classes year-round, and some make available accelerated curricula.
Similar to engineering as a whole, civil engineering is a broad field that encompasses multiple specialization areas. Keep reading as we highlight some popular civil engineering degree specializations.
Construction Engineering
This civil engineering specialization deals with everything from the design to the management of various infrastructure construction projects. Students gain experience in construction methods, budgets, and employee management.
Environmental Engineering
This subfield of civil engineering is an interdisciplinary specialization that touches on topics like biology, ecology, hydrology, and mathematics. Utilizing engineering and scientific principles, environmental engineers concern themselves with topics like wastewater management, water pollution, and municipal water supplies.
Geotechnical Engineering
This field deals with how soil impacts the construction of everything from housing to energy infrastructure. Geotechnical engineering introduces topics such as soil mechanics, geology, geophysics, and hydrogeology.
Structural Engineering
This specialization involves the design, assessment, and maintenance of structures ranging from buildings to bridges. Students gain extensive knowledge of physics, materials science, as well as various legal issues.
Transportation Engineering
This branch of civil engineering encompasses the creation, construction, operation, and maintenance of various transportation systems. Graduates work to enhance the safety and efficiency of everything from railways to highways to oil pipelines and traffic control systems.
Water Resources Engineering
Water resources engineering challenges students to gain expertise in the theoretical and practical concepts and methods involving the techniques and facilities used to transport, manage, and preserve water.
There's no one way to prepare yourself to gain admission into the top civil engineering colleges. That said, there are some common things you'll want to consider. From earning a high school degree to excelling in STEM coursework, read on to learn how to prepare for your civil engineering program.
Although admission requirements vary between schools, you'll inevitably notice some similarities as you prepare to submit applications. We've highlighted some common application requirements to help prepare you for the admissions process.
Just as you can jump into multiple civil engineering specializations, a degree in this field can prepare you for a long list of careers. Whether you want to be an environmental, construction, or transportation engineer, a civil engineering degree supplies you with the theoretical knowledge, technical skills, and leadership qualities that the field demands. Keep reading to learn more about this varied and growing field.
How much you earn as a civil engineer depends on multiple factors, including experience, degree level, specialization, and even geographic location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), civil engineers earn a median annual salary of $88,050. Additionally, BLS offers a broad range of compensation, with the bottom 10% earning less than $60,550 and top-earners raking in more than $133,320.
This salary variance is further complicated when you review salary numbers for civil engineering specializations. Both construction managers and environmental engineers earn about $100,000, with top earners making more than $153,000 annually.
When reviewing BLS data, you'll also notice that job growth numbers vary between civil engineering specializations. Environmental engineers can anticipate 3,400 job openings each year, while civil engineers can expect over 24,000 openings annually.
From civil engineering techs to environmental engineers, the job numbers for civil engineering professionals vary. See how much you can earn with different civil engineering careers.
Just as you can jump into multiple civil engineering specializations, a degree in this field can prepare you for a long list of careers. Whether you want to be an environmental, construction, or transportation engineer, a civil engineering degree supplies you with the theoretical knowledge, technical skills, and leadership qualities that the field demands. Keep reading to learn more about this varied and growing field.
How much you earn as a civil engineer depends on multiple factors, including experience, degree level, specialization, and even geographic location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), civil engineers earn a median annual salary of $88,050. Additionally, BLS offers a broad range of compensation, with the bottom 10% earning less than $60,550 and top-earners raking in more than $133,320.
This salary variance is further complicated when you review salary numbers for civil engineering specializations. Both construction managers and environmental engineers earn about $100,000, with top earners making more than $153,000 annually.
When reviewing BLS data, you'll also notice that job growth numbers vary between civil engineering specializations. Environmental engineers can anticipate 3,400 job openings each year, while civil engineers can expect over 24,000 openings annually.
From civil engineering techs to environmental engineers, the job numbers for civil engineering professionals vary. See how much you can earn with different civil engineering careers.
Career |
Salary |
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) |
About the Position |
$88,050 |
7% |
Whether in the public or private sectors, these professionals play a significant role in various infrastructure projects. |
|
$58,320 |
5% |
Working alongside civil engineers, these professionals utilize training to prepare reports, conduct surveys, and tackle various administrative tasks. |
|
$96,820 |
4% |
Environmental engineers utilize interdisciplinary knowledge to address various environmental issues. |
Is civil engineering a good major?
For students with a knack for STEM coursework, a civil engineering degree is a great option. Civil engineers tackle an interdisciplinary curriculum that leans heavily on math, science, and engineering topics. Graduates can expect to enter a perpetually growing career field.
What do you learn in a civil engineering program?
Civil engineering students take a heavy course load of STEM classes. In addition to core civil engineering classes, students can often choose from specializations like construction, environmental, structural, and transportation engineering.
How long does it take to complete a civil engineering degree?
The time it takes to complete your civil engineering degree isn't set in stone. Full-time degree-seekers can graduate in as little as four years, while part-time students take longer. Additionally, online students sometimes have access to accelerated programs.
Does civil engineering pay well?
Like other engineering disciplines, civil engineering can provide graduates with higher-than-average salaries. Experienced professionals with advanced degrees and those in leadership roles tend to make the most.
Is civil engineering hard?
For prospective students who find math and science classes especially challenging, a civil engineering degree might not be a good fit. Conversely, students who thrive in STEM courses will feel right at home when digging into civil engineering coursework.
School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX | 24 : 1 | 70,418 | |
![]() |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | 22 : 1 | 46,287 | |
![]() |
Iowa State University Ames, IA | 21 : 1 | 31,822 | |
![]() |
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | 19 : 1 | 30,135 | |
![]() |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | 23 : 1 | 48,149 |