Best Civil Engineering Programs in the Midwest (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Engineering Colleges in the Midwest
Regional list from Best Civil Engineering Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 51 Civil Engineering programs in the Midwest by the median earnings of Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. Milwaukee School of Engineering leads the list with median earnings of $92,809 four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, reported earnings range from $92,809 to $50,856, with a median of $83,460. For 1 of the 51 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 38 of the 51 programs, or 75%, alongside 13 private nonprofits. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on the list.
Purdue University Northwest posts the lowest average net price at $6,079, while South Dakota State University reports the highest admission rate, admitting 98% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee School of Engineering · Milwaukee, WI | $92,809 | $22,453 | $11,607 | 58.9% |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering ranks 1st on this list, with median earnings of $92,809 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $91,650 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reports an average net price of $2,038 for families earning under $30,000 and a median federal debt of $19,000 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 3 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $90,873 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus admits 50% of applicants and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $90,873 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $90,650 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| Michigan State University ranks 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Civil Engineering completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $26,500. | |||||
| 5 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH | $89,653 | $25,648 | $17,974 | 85.3% |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus reports median earnings of $89,653 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 69 graduates. | |||||
| 6 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $89,165 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
| An admission rate of 16% and an average net price of $1,043 for families earning under $30,000 accompany University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Civil Engineering program. | |||||
| 7 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $89,087 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
| University of Kansas reports a median federal debt of $20,500 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed and ranks 7th on this list. | |||||
| 8 | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology · Terre Haute, IN | $88,155 | $42,513 | $36,843 | 76.9% |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a private nonprofit institution, reports median earnings of $88,155 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Marquette University · Milwaukee, WI | $88,144 | $31,487 | $22,269 | 81.3% |
| Marquette University reports an average net price of $31,487 and a median federal debt of $26,750 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 10 | Illinois Institute of Technology · Chicago, IL | $87,884 | $18,425 | $12,964 | 54.9% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology ranks 206th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $87,884 four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | University of North Dakota · Grand Forks, ND | $87,828 | $18,551 | $13,126 | 76.9% |
| University of North Dakota admits 77% of applicants and reports a median federal debt of $18,211 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $87,691 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| Median earnings of $87,691 four years after completing and a cohort of 98 graduates mark University of Wisconsin-Madison's Civil Engineering program. | |||||
| 13 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · Edwardsville, IL | $85,969 | $14,889 | $8,483 | 97.5% |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville reports median earnings of $85,969 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,889. | |||||
| 14 | University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN | $85,781 | $26,780 | $7,244 | 11.3% |
| A private nonprofit university in Notre Dame, University of Notre Dame admits 11% of applicants and its Civil Engineering completers who borrowed left with a median of $13,500 in federal loans. | |||||
| 15 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $85,427 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
| Iowa State University ranks 15th on this list, with 122 graduates in the earnings cohort and a median of $85,427 four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $85,202 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus posts an average net price of $4,885 for families earning under $30,000, and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $85,202 four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | University of Missouri-Kansas City · Kansas City, MO | $85,055 | $13,310 | $10,576 | 72.2% |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City sits 17th on this page and reports median federal debt of $21,375 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 18 | Missouri University of Science and Technology · Rolla, MO | $85,053 | $16,298 | $10,912 | 72.6% |
| With a cohort of 128, Missouri University of Science and Technology shows median earnings of $85,053 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | Purdue University Northwest · Hammond, IN | $84,514 | $6,079 | $1,432 | 72.4% |
| Purdue University Northwest carries an average net price of $6,079 and ranks 203rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 20 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $84,157 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
| Wayne State University admits 81% of applicants, and its Civil Engineering completers who borrowed left with a median of $27,500 in federal loans. | |||||
| 21 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | $83,992 | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $83,992 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 73 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 22 | Michigan Technological University · Houghton, MI | $83,841 | $14,182 | $2,045 | 92.4% |
| Michigan Technological University posts an average net price of $2,045 for families earning under $30,000, and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $83,841 four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | Bradley University · Peoria, IL | $83,801 | $22,719 | $17,269 | 76.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Peoria, Bradley University ranks 23rd on this list and reports median federal debt of $27,000 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 24 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | $83,684 | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia shows median earnings of $83,684 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 78%. | |||||
| 25 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $83,680 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
| Ranked 25th on this list, University of Illinois Chicago reports median earnings of $83,680 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 26 | University of Dayton · Dayton, OH | $83,460 | $29,533 | $21,736 | 65.5% |
| Admitting 65% of applicants, University of Dayton posts median earnings of $83,460 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | Kansas State University · Manhattan, KS | $83,453 | $19,406 | $13,178 | 81.7% |
| Kansas State University reports median earnings of $83,453 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 45 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 28 | University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA | $83,350 | $22,531 | $15,316 | 83.6% |
| University of Iowa ranks 184th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 41 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 29 | Lawrence Technological University · Southfield, MI | $83,291 | $32,918 | $25,980 | 55.9% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans from Lawrence Technological University. | |||||
| 30 | University of Akron Main Campus · Akron, OH | $82,547 | $13,946 | $10,413 | 59.7% |
| University of Akron Main Campus reports median earnings of $82,547 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 52 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 31 | South Dakota State University · Brookings, SD | $82,486 | $19,841 | $14,266 | 98.3% |
| With an admission rate of 98%, South Dakota State University reports median earnings of $82,486 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $82,281 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities shows median federal debt of $18,273 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed, alongside 52 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 33 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville · Platteville, WI | $81,976 | $16,032 | $9,009 | 89.4% |
| An average net price of $9,009 for families earning under $30,000 marks University of Wisconsin-Platteville, a public university in Platteville. | |||||
| 34 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $81,888 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale reports median earnings of $81,888 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 21 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 35 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $81,620 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
| Admitting 87% of applicants, University of Nebraska-Lincoln reports median earnings of $81,620 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 36 | University of Missouri-St Louis · Saint Louis, MO | $81,305 | $15,071 | $13,031 | 62.7% |
| Ranked 36th on this list, University of Missouri-St Louis records a median of $20,000 in federal loans among graduates across all fields who borrowed. | |||||
| 37 | Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH | $81,019 | $21,637 | $15,673 | 85.0% |
| Ohio University-Main Campus posts median earnings of $81,019 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $21,637. | |||||
| 38 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology · Rapid City, SD | $80,613 | $20,183 | $15,348 | 79.9% |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology admits 80% of applicants and reports a median federal debt of $27,000 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 39 | University of Evansville · Evansville, IN | $80,532 | $18,499 | $14,451 | 77.6% |
| A private nonprofit university in Evansville, University of Evansville ranks 39th on this list and shows a median federal debt of $24,606 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 40 | Youngstown State University · Youngstown, OH | $80,437 | $12,767 | $9,328 | 84.5% |
| Youngstown State University reports an average net price of $9,328 for families earning under $30,000, with 29 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 41 | Valparaiso University · Valparaiso, IN | $80,173 | $18,578 | $11,043 | 89.4% |
| Valparaiso University ranks 677th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $80,173 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 42 | Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, OH | $79,980 | $41,190 | $19,025 | 36.5% |
| Case Western Reserve University has an admission rate of 37% and a median federal debt of $25,190 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 43 | University of Toledo · Toledo, OH | $79,886 | $17,249 | $13,524 | 92.0% |
| University of Toledo reports median earnings of $79,886 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $17,249. | |||||
| 44 | Ohio Northern University · Ada, OH | $79,673 | $24,478 | $18,525 | 74.4% |
| Ohio Northern University ranks 44th on this list and shows a median federal debt of $23,586 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 45 | University of Minnesota-Duluth · Duluth, MN | $79,485 | $18,743 | $7,256 | 88.8% |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth reports an average net price of $7,256 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $79,485 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 46 | Trine University · Angola, IN | $78,808 | $25,355 | $19,661 | 85.5% |
| Trine University admits 85% of applicants and reports a median federal debt of $27,000 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 47 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $78,368 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
| Western Michigan University ranks 353rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $15,273. | |||||
| 48 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI | $77,958 | $15,014 | $10,329 | 90.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reports median earnings of $77,958 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 63 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 49 | Minnesota State University-Mankato · Mankato, MN | $74,989 | $19,139 | $12,339 | 88.4% |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato reports median earnings of $74,989 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $19,139. | |||||
| 50 | Cleveland State University · Cleveland, OH | $73,575 | $14,764 | $11,958 | 91.3% |
| Cleveland State University admits 91% of applicants and its Civil Engineering completers who borrowed left with a median of $26,117 in federal loans. | |||||
| 51 | Purdue University Fort Wayne · Fort Wayne, IN | $50,856 | $13,171 | $8,306 | 83.9% |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne ranks 51st on this list, with an average net price of $8,306 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
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 the Midwest appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 51 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between first-ranked Milwaukee School of Engineering and second-ranked University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is $1,159.
Job market context in the Midwest
Civil Engineering graduates in the Midwest enter occupations such as Civil Engineers, with a median annual wage of $96,870, and Engineers, All Other, where the median is $114,098. Across the linked occupations the median annual wage is $101,153, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $79,976. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 4.0% higher, with 8,400 projected openings a year, or about 289 openings a year for every hundred graduates, 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, not the earnings of any listed program.