Best Civil Engineering colleges in the U.S. 2024

Have you ever wondered who builds storm drains and sidewalks, or have you ever been fascinated by the grand structure of a bridge? The artists responsible for the structures in our every day life are those who earn their degree in civil engineering, of course! Civil engineering professionals are responsible for the engineering and construction of public infrastructure, such as, roads, buildings, tunnels, airports, dams, bridges, and water supply systems.

A degree in civil engineering requires strong math,physics, and chemistry skills. The degree can often be interdisciplinary depending on one’s career goals. Along with the foundational coursework of mathematical and computational methods, students can take classes in urban planning, computer science or environmental science. Many schools also offer programs strictly in civil engineering. Once a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering is completed, students can go on to receive a master’s degree in civil engineering or in another related discipline. After receiving a bachelor’s degree, students can work in careers such as construction managers, environmental engineers, transportation engineers, or structural engineers. This degree also prepares students for the licensure that is required for anyone who provides engineering services to the public.

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Best Civil Engineering colleges in the U.S. for 2024

Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers 3 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 35 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 17 Master's degrees, 9 Bachelor's degrees, and 9 Doctoral degrees.

Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University offers 3 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 87 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 46 Master's degrees, 32 Bachelor's degrees, and 9 Doctoral degrees.

Stanford University
Stanford, CA
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Stanford University offers 5 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 181 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 137 Master's degrees, 34 Doctoral degrees, 6 Bachelor's degrees, and 4 Certificates.

Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University offers 3 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 32 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 12 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Master's degrees, and 9 Doctoral degrees.

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Northwestern University offers 3 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 60 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 33 Master's degrees, 16 Bachelor's degrees, and 11 Doctoral degrees.

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University offers 4 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 42 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 27 Master's degrees, 7 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Certificate.

University of California-Berkeley offers 3 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 383 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 248 Master's degrees, 106 Bachelor's degrees, and 29 Doctoral degrees.

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Columbia University in the City of New York offers 4 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 118 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 84 Master's degrees, 18 Bachelor's degrees, 9 Certificates, and 7 Doctoral degrees.

Rice University
Houston, TX

Rice University offers 3 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 26 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 23 Bachelor's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.

Carnegie Mellon University offers 3 Civil Engineering, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 97 Civil Engineering, General students graduated with students earning 57 Master's degrees, 34 Bachelor's degrees, and 6 Doctoral degrees.

What is Civil Engineering?

Many would say that civil engineering is responsible for how our civilization was created and continues to evolve. You might see a civil engineer overseeing large construction projects and using devices such as traffic counters, tape measures, and distance meters. 

Civil engineers plan, design, construct, maintain, and supervise significant infrastructure, such as:

  • Bridges
  • Roads
  • Subways
  • High-rise buildings
  • Dams
  • Highways
  • Railroads

However, there are also many different subtypes of engineering, such as:

  • Environmental
  • Management
  • Geotechnical
  • Administrative
  • Aerospace
  • Computer hardware
  • Materials
  • Biomedical
  • Agriculture
  • Health and Safety
  • Geological
  • Marine
  • Nuclear
  • Genetic
  • Biomolecular

List of all Civil Engineering colleges in the U.S.

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Logo Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA
5/5
8 : 1 11,858
Cornell University Logo Cornell University Ithaca, NY
5/5
14 : 1 25,898
Stanford University Logo Stanford University Stanford, CA
5/5
13 : 1 18,283
Duke University Logo Duke University Durham, NC
5/5
12 : 1 18,023
Northwestern University Logo Northwestern University Evanston, IL
5/5
15 : 1 23,161