[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/) # Best Civil Engineering Programs in Ohio (2026) Updated September 30, 2026 Part of [Best Engineering Colleges in Ohio](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-ohio/) This page ranks the 10 Civil Engineering programs in Ohio by median earnings of Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. [University of Cincinnati-Main Campus](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $89,653 four years after completing. The second-ranked program, [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/), reports $85,202, a gap of $4,451 from the top. Across the list, the median earnings figure is $80,728, with a spread of $16,078 from $89,653 to $73,575. Public institutions account for 7 of the 10 listed programs, alongside 3 private nonprofits. Ohio State University-Main Campus ranks 90th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on the page. Youngstown State University posts the lowest average net price at $12,767, while University of Toledo has the highest admission rate, admitting 92% of applicants. ## The ranked list 10 schools in list order | Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH | $89,653 | $25,648 | $17,974 | 85.3% | | | [University of Cincinnati-Main Campus](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/majors/) ranks 1st on this list with [median earnings of $89,653](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 85%. | | 2 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $85,202 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% | | | [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) posts an [average net price of $17,339](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/cost/) and median federal debt of $21,820 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | | 3 | University of Dayton · Dayton, OH | $83,460 | $29,533 | $21,736 | 65.5% | | | A private nonprofit university in Dayton, [University of Dayton](/school/university-of-dayton/majors/) reports [$83,460 in median earnings](/school/university-of-dayton/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | | 4 | University of Akron Main Campus · Akron, OH | $82,547 | $13,946 | $10,413 | 59.7% | | | [University of Akron Main Campus](/school/university-of-akron-main-campus/majors/) ranks 4th on this list and sits at 407th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | | 5 | Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH | $81,019 | $21,637 | $15,673 | 85.0% | | | [Ohio University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $81,019](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 39 graduates in the earnings cohort. | | 6 | Youngstown State University · Youngstown, OH | $80,437 | $12,767 | $9,328 | 84.5% | | | With an [average net price of $12,767,](/school/youngstown-state-university/cost/) [Youngstown State University](/school/youngstown-state-university/majors/) also shows median federal debt of $23,500 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | | 7 | Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, OH | $79,980 | $41,190 | $19,025 | 36.5% | | | [Case Western Reserve University](/school/case-western-reserve-university/majors/) [admits 37% of applicants](/school/case-western-reserve-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $79,980 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | | 8 | University of Toledo · Toledo, OH | $79,886 | $17,249 | $13,524 | 92.0% | | | [University of Toledo](/school/university-of-toledo/majors/) ranks 8th on this list and carries an [admission rate of 92%](/school/university-of-toledo/admissions/). | | 9 | Ohio Northern University · Ada, OH | $79,673 | $24,478 | $18,525 | 74.4% | | | [Ohio Northern University](/school/ohio-northern-university/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $23,586](/school/ohio-northern-university/cost/) among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed and median earnings of $79,673 four years after completing. | | 10 | Cleveland State University · Cleveland, OH | $73,575 | $14,764 | $11,958 | 91.3% | | | [Cleveland State University](/school/cleveland-state-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $14,764](/school/cleveland-state-university/cost/) and ranks 211th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ## How this list is ordered Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Ohio appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from University of Cincinnati-Main Campus to the tenth-ranked program is $16,078, and the gap between University of Cincinnati-Main Campus and Ohio State University-Main Campus is $4,451. ## Job market context in Ohio Civil Engineering graduates in Ohio are linked to occupations such as Civil Engineers and Engineers, All Other. The median annual wage across those occupations is $105,169, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $81,614. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 1.6% higher, with 840 projected openings a year, about 160 openings a year for every hundred graduates, or more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing; the market figures describe the occupations, and the two are not the same measure. ## Related rankings - [Best Civil Engineering Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs/) - [Best Colleges in Ohio](/rankings/best-colleges-in-ohio/) - [Best Civil Engineering Programs in Texas](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs-in-texas/) - [Best Civil Engineering Programs in Florida](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs-in-florida/) - [Best Civil Engineering Programs in California](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs-in-california/) - [Best Civil Engineering Programs in Pennsylvania](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs-in-pennsylvania/) - [Best Engineering Colleges in Ohio](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-ohio/)