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# Best Civil Engineering Programs in the Midwest (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Engineering Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-the-midwest/)

Regional list from [Best Civil Engineering Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs/)

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](/school/milwaukee-school-of-engineering/majors/) 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

51 schools in list order

| 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](/school/milwaukee-school-of-engineering/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, with [median earnings of $92,809](/school/milwaukee-school-of-engineering/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/) reports an [average net price of $2,038](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/cost/) 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](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/majors/) [admits 50% of applicants](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/admissions/) 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](/school/michigan-state-university/majors/) [ranks 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/michigan-state-university/) 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](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $89,653](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/outcomes/) 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%](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/admissions/) and an average net price of $1,043 for families earning under $30,000 accompany [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/)'s Civil Engineering program. |
| 7 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $89,087 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
|  | [University of Kansas](/school/university-of-kansas/majors/) reports a [median federal debt of $20,500](/school/university-of-kansas/cost/) 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](/school/rose-hulman-institute-of-technology/majors/), a private nonprofit institution, reports [median earnings of $88,155](/school/rose-hulman-institute-of-technology/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 9 | Marquette University · Milwaukee, WI | $88,144 | $31,487 | $22,269 | 81.3% |
|  | [Marquette University](/school/marquette-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $31,487](/school/marquette-university/cost/) 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](/school/illinois-institute-of-technology/majors/) [ranks 206th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/illinois-institute-of-technology/) 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](/school/university-of-north-dakota/majors/) [admits 77% of applicants](/school/university-of-north-dakota/admissions/) 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](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/)'s Civil Engineering program. |
| 13 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · Edwardsville, IL | $85,969 | $14,889 | $8,483 | 97.5% |
|  | [Southern Illinois University Edwardsville](/school/southern-illinois-university-edwardsville/majors/) reports [median earnings of $85,969](/school/southern-illinois-university-edwardsville/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-notre-dame/majors/) [admits 11% of applicants](/school/university-of-notre-dame/admissions/) 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](/school/iowa-state-university/majors/) ranks 15th on this list, with 122 graduates in the earnings cohort and a [median of $85,427](/school/iowa-state-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) posts an [average net price of $4,885](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/cost/) 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](/school/university-of-missouri-kansas-city/majors/) sits 17th on this page and reports [median federal debt of $21,375](/school/university-of-missouri-kansas-city/cost/) 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](/school/missouri-university-of-science-and-technology/majors/) shows [median earnings of $85,053](/school/missouri-university-of-science-and-technology/outcomes/) 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](/school/purdue-university-northwest/majors/) carries an [average net price of $6,079](/school/purdue-university-northwest/cost/) 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](/school/wayne-state-university/majors/) [admits 81% of applicants](/school/wayne-state-university/admissions/), 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](/school/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $83,992](/school/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) 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](/school/michigan-technological-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $2,045](/school/michigan-technological-university/cost/) 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](/school/bradley-university/majors/) ranks 23rd on this list and reports [median federal debt of $27,000](/school/bradley-university/cost/) 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](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/) shows [median earnings of $83,684](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/majors/) reports [median earnings of $83,680](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-dayton/majors/) posts [median earnings of $83,460](/school/university-of-dayton/outcomes/) 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](/school/kansas-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $83,453](/school/kansas-state-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-iowa/majors/) [ranks 184th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-iowa/) 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](/school/lawrence-technological-university/outcomes/) in federal loans from [Lawrence Technological University](/school/lawrence-technological-university/majors/). |
| 30 | 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/) reports [median earnings of $82,547](/school/university-of-akron-main-campus/outcomes/) 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%](/school/south-dakota-state-university/admissions/), [South Dakota State University](/school/south-dakota-state-university/majors/) 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](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $18,273](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/cost/) 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](/school/university-of-wisconsin-platteville/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 marks [University of Wisconsin-Platteville](/school/university-of-wisconsin-platteville/majors/), a public university in Platteville. |
| 34 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $81,888 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
|  | [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/) reports [median earnings of $81,888](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/) reports [median earnings of $81,620](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-missouri-st-louis/majors/) records a [median of $20,000](/school/university-of-missouri-st-louis/outcomes/) 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](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/majors/) posts [median earnings of $81,019](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/outcomes/) 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](/school/youngstown-state-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $9,328](/school/youngstown-state-university/cost/) 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](/school/valparaiso-university/majors/) [ranks 677th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/valparaiso-university/) 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](/school/case-western-reserve-university/majors/) has an [admission rate of 37%](/school/case-western-reserve-university/admissions/) 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](/school/university-of-toledo/majors/) reports [median earnings of $79,886](/school/university-of-toledo/outcomes/) 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](/school/ohio-northern-university/majors/) ranks 44th on this list and shows a [median federal debt of $23,586](/school/ohio-northern-university/cost/) 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](/school/university-of-minnesota-duluth/majors/) reports an [average net price of $7,256](/school/university-of-minnesota-duluth/cost/) 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](/school/trine-university/majors/) [admits 85% of applicants](/school/trine-university/admissions/) 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](/school/western-michigan-university/majors/) [ranks 353rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/western-michigan-university/) 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](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/majors/) reports [median earnings of $77,958](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/outcomes/) 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](/school/minnesota-state-university-mankato/majors/) reports [median earnings of $74,989](/school/minnesota-state-university-mankato/outcomes/) 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](/school/cleveland-state-university/majors/) [admits 91% of applicants](/school/cleveland-state-university/admissions/) 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](/school/purdue-university-fort-wayne/majors/) ranks 51st on this list, with an [average net price of $8,306](/school/purdue-university-fort-wayne/cost/) 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.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Civil Engineering Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Civil Engineering Programs in the Northeast](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Civil Engineering Programs in the West](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs-in-the-west/)
-   [Best Civil Engineering Programs in the South](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs-in-the-south/)
-   [Best Engineering Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-the-midwest/)