Compare 10 Civil Engineering. programs in Pennsylvania. Average earnings: $79,310.
With top graduates earning $93,769, Civil Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $14K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Carnegie Mellon University's Civil Engineering program leads with graduates earning $93,769, while the state average sits at $79,310. Lafayette College follows at $88,494 and Lehigh University at $81,375, demonstrating how program-specific factors drive outcomes more than overall institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Lafayette College graduates borrow $16,000 and face just a 3.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Carnegie Mellon achieves similar affordability at 4.2%, proving that top programs can also be financially accessible.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $93,769 | 25 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Manageable |
| #2 | Lafayette CollegePrivate | $88,494 | 34 | $16,000 | Excellent | $59,000 | Manageable |
| #3 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $81,375 | 33 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Manageable |
| #4 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $78,509 | 46 | $25,325 | Excellent | $40,932 | Manageable |
| #5 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | $78,184 | 29 | $27,000 | Excellent | $62,750 | Challenging |
| #6 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $78,003 | 51 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Manageable |
| #7 | $76,597 | 64 | $24,250 | Excellent | $35,031 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Temple UniversityPublic | $74,796 | 80 | $24,395 | Excellent | $36,495 | Manageable |
| #9 | $74,766 | 302 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Challenging | |
| #10 | Widener UniversityPrivate | $68,611 | 34 | $27,000 | Good | $33,146 | Challenging |
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 →
