Compare 228 Civil Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $74,851. Top programs: $106,533+.
With top graduates earning $106,533, Civil Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $32K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
University of Southern California's Civil Engineering program leads with graduates earning $106,533, while the average across 228 programs is $74,851. But the real story is San Jose State University at #3, producing graduates earning $96,098 with an 80% acceptance rate—demonstrating that accessible programs can deliver exceptional outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Cornell University graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 2.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, Cal State LA leads with a 5.6% family burden, proving that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $106,533
Strong outcomes ($96,098) with 80% acceptance
2.6% payment burden | Excellent
5.6% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $106,533 | 25 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #2 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $100,598 | 17 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Manageable |
| #3 | $96,098 | 138 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Excellent | |
| #4 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $95,056 | 37 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #5 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $93,769 | 25 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Manageable |
| #6 | $93,131 | 57 | $16,552 | Excellent | $17,585 | Excellent | |
| #7 | University Of The PacificPrivate | $92,409 | 14 | $19,500 | Excellent | $50,438 | Manageable |
| #8 | $91,424 | 159 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #9 | $91,243 | 146 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Good | |
| #10 | $91,006 | 81 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Good | |
| #11 | Manhattan CollegePrivate | $90,904 | 105 | $26,000 | Excellent | $56,630 | Challenging |
| #12 | $90,288 | 87 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Good | |
| #13 | $90,155 | 59 | $13,000 | Excellent | $12,526 | Excellent | |
| #14 | $89,286 | 59 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Excellent | |
| #15 | Lafayette CollegePrivate | $88,494 | 34 | $16,000 | Excellent | $59,000 | Manageable |
| #16 | $87,839 | 43 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,192 | Challenging | |
| #17 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $87,026 | 22 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Good |
| #18 | $86,596 | 191 | $15,000 | Excellent | $25,565 | Good | |
| #19 | $86,209 | 93 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Good | |
| #20 | $85,859 | 49 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,567 | Challenging | |
| #21 | Saint Martin's UniversityPrivate | $85,216 | 24 | $22,500 | Excellent | $22,678 | Good |
| #22 | New York UniversityPrivate | $85,133 | 26 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | Challenging |
| #23 | $85,123 | 40 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | |
| #24 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $85,090 | 50 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Manageable |
| #25 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $84,716 | 17 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
