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# Best Civil Engineering Programs in the Northeast (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

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

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

This page ranks the 46 Civil Engineering programs in the Northeast by median earnings of Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. [The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art](/school/the-cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $108,466 four years after completing, followed closely by [Columbia University in the City of New York](/school/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york/majors/) at $108,246.

Across the listed programs, median earnings range from $108,466 to $65,238, with a median of $87,378.

The list includes 20 public and 26 private nonprofit institutions. CUNY City College posts the lowest average net price at $3,776, while Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

46 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art · New York, NY | $108,466 | $13,269 | $3,749 | 20.7% |
|  | [The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art](/school/the-cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art/majors/), a private nonprofit institution in New York, reports [median earnings of $108,466](/school/the-cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York · New York, NY | $108,246 | $21,590 | $4,570 | 4.0% |
|  | [Columbia University in the City of New York](/school/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york/majors/) [admits 4% of applicants](/school/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york/admissions/) and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $108,246 four years after completing, placing it 2nd on this page. |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA | $105,199 | $31,944 | $9,097 | 11.7% |
|  | With an [average net price of $31,944,](/school/carnegie-mellon-university/cost/) [Carnegie Mellon University](/school/carnegie-mellon-university/majors/) reports median earnings of $105,199 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Northeastern University · Boston, MA | $100,613 | $30,915 | $2,264 | 5.2% |
|  | [Northeastern University](/school/northeastern-university/majors/) ranks 4th on this list, and its median federal debt among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed is $24,750. |
| 5 | Manhattan University · Riverdale, NY | $95,877 | $27,256 | $27,281 | 78.9% |
|  | [Manhattan University](/school/manhattan-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $95,877](/school/manhattan-university/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 99 graduates. |
| 6 | Bucknell University · Lewisburg, PA | $95,693 | $40,766 | $20,980 | 28.9% |
|  | [Bucknell University](/school/bucknell-university/majors/) [ranks 395th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/bucknell-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $95,693 four years after completing. |
| 7 | New York University · New York, NY | $94,867 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 9.2% |
|  | [New York University](/school/new-york-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $16,977](/school/new-york-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 8 | The College of New Jersey · Ewing, NJ | $93,977 | $27,646 | $7,908 | 62.3% |
|  | A public university in Ewing, [The College of New Jersey](/school/the-college-of-new-jersey/majors/) reports [median earnings of $93,977](/school/the-college-of-new-jersey/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 9 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute · Worcester, MA | $93,417 | $43,071 | $24,018 | 60.2% |
|  | [Worcester Polytechnic Institute](/school/worcester-polytechnic-institute/majors/) [admits 60% of applicants](/school/worcester-polytechnic-institute/admissions/), and its median federal debt among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed is $27,000. |
| 10 | Wentworth Institute of Technology · Boston, MA | $93,402 | $34,170 | $27,018 | 91.2% |
|  | [Wentworth Institute of Technology](/school/wentworth-institute-of-technology/majors/) ranks 10th on this list, with [median earnings of $93,402](/school/wentworth-institute-of-technology/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 11 | Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY | $92,908 | $18,784 | $12,943 | 49.0% |
|  | [Stony Brook University](/school/stony-brook-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $92,908](/school/stony-brook-university/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, and its median federal debt among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed is $16,500. |
| 12 | Stevens Institute of Technology · Hoboken, NJ | $92,609 | $41,346 | $27,221 | 47.6% |
|  | [Stevens Institute of Technology](/school/stevens-institute-of-technology/majors/) [ranks 465th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/stevens-institute-of-technology/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $92,609 four years after completing. |
| 13 | Lehigh University · Bethlehem, PA | $91,856 | $36,931 | $16,917 | 25.9% |
|  | [Lehigh University](/school/lehigh-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $91,856](/school/lehigh-university/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $36,931. |
| 14 | Cornell University · Ithaca, NY | $91,242 | $28,690 | $1,776 | 8.8% |
|  | [Cornell University](/school/cornell-university/majors/) [admits 9% of applicants](/school/cornell-university/admissions/) and its Civil Engineering completers who borrowed left with a median of $12,500 in federal loans. |
| 15 | Merrimack College · North Andover, MA | $90,714 | $37,927 | $31,710 | 70.0% |
|  | [Merrimack College](/school/merrimack-college/majors/) ranks 15th on this list and posts a [median of $90,714](/school/merrimack-college/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 16 | Roger Williams University · Bristol, RI | $90,146 | $37,999 | $29,778 | 87.7% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Roger Williams University left with a median of $26,940 in federal loans, and the school's Civil Engineering graduates earned a median of $90,146 four years after completing. |
| 17 | Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY | $88,996 | $38,793 | $15,817 | 45.9% |
|  | [Syracuse University](/school/syracuse-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $38,793](/school/syracuse-university/cost/) while its Civil Engineering completers who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans. |
| 18 | Tufts University · Medford, MA | $88,924 | $39,998 | $11,284 | 11.5% |
|  | [Tufts University](/school/tufts-university/majors/) sits 18th on this list, with [median earnings of $88,924](/school/tufts-university/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst · Amherst, MA | $88,076 | $22,383 | $10,164 | 59.7% |
|  | A public university in Amherst, [University of Massachusetts-Amherst](/school/university-of-massachusetts-amherst/majors/) reports an [admission rate of 60%](/school/university-of-massachusetts-amherst/admissions/) and a median of $88,076 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 20 | CUNY City College · New York, NY | $87,957 | $3,776 | $1,251 | 60.0% |
|  | [CUNY City College](/school/cuny-city-college/majors/) carries an [average net price of $3,776](/school/cuny-city-college/cost/) and its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing earned a median of $87,957. |
| 21 | University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT | $87,883 | $25,097 | $15,193 | 52.4% |
|  | [University of Connecticut](/school/university-of-connecticut/majors/) [ranks 105th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-connecticut/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Civil Engineering graduates earned a median of $87,883 four years after completing. |
| 22 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $87,557 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
|  | [Rutgers University-New Brunswick](/school/rutgers-university-new-brunswick/majors/) reports a [median of $87,557](/school/rutgers-university-new-brunswick/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $25,880 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 23 | New Jersey Institute of Technology · Newark, NJ | $87,389 | $16,504 | $10,138 | 65.1% |
|  | [New Jersey Institute of Technology](/school/new-jersey-institute-of-technology/majors/) [admits 65% of applicants](/school/new-jersey-institute-of-technology/admissions/) and its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing earned a median of $87,389. |
| 24 | Central Connecticut State University · New Britain, CT | $87,366 | $16,857 | $13,589 | 73.3% |
|  | [Central Connecticut State University](/school/central-connecticut-state-university/majors/) ranks 24th on this list and its Civil Engineering completers who borrowed left with a [median of $26,000](/school/central-connecticut-state-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, alongside an average net price of $16,857. |
| 25 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Troy, NY | $86,794 | $36,228 | $24,078 | 63.5% |
|  | [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/school/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute/majors/) reports [median earnings of $86,794](/school/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, and ranks 25th on this list. |
| 26 | Western New England University · Springfield, MA | $86,375 | $27,290 | $20,726 | 83.5% |
|  | Ranking 26th, [Western New England University](/school/western-new-england-university/majors/) posts an [admission rate of 83%](/school/western-new-england-university/admissions/) and a median of $86,375 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 27 | Drexel University · Philadelphia, PA | $84,992 | $38,509 | $28,055 | 79.4% |
|  | [Drexel University](/school/drexel-university/majors/) sits 27th on the page, with [median earnings of $84,992](/school/drexel-university/outcomes/) four years after completing and a median federal debt of $31,000 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 28 | University at Buffalo · Buffalo, NY | $84,868 | $20,995 | $14,668 | 74.2% |
|  | A public university in Buffalo, [University at Buffalo](/school/university-at-buffalo/majors/) ranks 28th on this list and shows an [average net price of $20,995](/school/university-at-buffalo/cost/). |
| 29 | University of Hartford · West Hartford, CT | $84,614 | $30,282 | $25,925 | 95.8% |
|  | [University of Hartford](/school/university-of-hartford/majors/) [admits 96% of applicants](/school/university-of-hartford/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $84,614 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, ranking 29th. |
| 30 | University of New Haven · West Haven, CT | $83,798 | $34,192 | $27,837 | 60.4% |
|  | Ranking 30th, [University of New Haven](/school/university-of-new-haven/majors/) posts [median earnings of $83,798](/school/university-of-new-haven/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $27,837 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 31 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell · Lowell, MA | $83,233 | $17,163 | $9,943 | 83.0% |
|  | [University of Massachusetts-Lowell](/school/university-of-massachusetts-lowell/majors/) ranks 31st on this list, with [median earnings of $83,233](/school/university-of-massachusetts-lowell/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $9,943 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 32 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH | $82,653 | $23,805 | $16,523 | 88.2% |
|  | With a [median of $82,653](/school/university-of-new-hampshire-main-campus/outcomes/) four years after completing, [University of New Hampshire-Main Campus](/school/university-of-new-hampshire-main-campus/majors/) ranks 32nd on this list and carries a median federal debt of $27,000 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 33 | Temple University · Philadelphia, PA | $82,553 | $28,198 | $22,694 | 80.4% |
|  | [Temple University](/school/temple-university/majors/) ranks 33rd on this list and reports [median earnings of $82,553](/school/temple-university/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 80%. |
| 34 | Clarkson University · Potsdam, NY | $82,387 | $30,305 | $21,335 | 77.4% |
|  | Ranking 34th, [Clarkson University](/school/clarkson-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $82,387](/school/clarkson-university/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $30,305. |
| 35 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $81,403 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
|  | [Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus](/school/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/) sits 35th on the page, with [median earnings of $81,403](/school/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) four years after completing and a median federal debt of $26,000 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 36 | Villanova University · Villanova, PA | $81,038 | $43,756 | $17,823 | 27.0% |
|  | [Villanova University](/school/villanova-university/majors/) ranks 36th on this list and reports [median earnings of $81,038](/school/villanova-university/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 27%. |
| 37 | Widener University · Chester, PA | $80,117 | $25,759 | $21,200 | 70.9% |
|  | [Widener University](/school/widener-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Chester, reports [median earnings of $80,117](/school/widener-university/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $26,998 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 38 | University of Rhode Island · Kingston, RI | $79,457 | $21,440 | $14,368 | 72.2% |
|  | [University of Rhode Island](/school/university-of-rhode-island/majors/) [admits 72% of applicants](/school/university-of-rhode-island/admissions/) and shows median earnings of $79,457 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 39 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth · North Dartmouth, MA | $79,051 | $20,927 | $15,976 | 90.6% |
|  | With an [average net price of $15,976](/school/university-of-massachusetts-dartmouth/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, [University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth](/school/university-of-massachusetts-dartmouth/majors/) ranks 39th on this list. |
| 40 | University of Maine · Orono, ME | $78,989 | $17,510 | $12,642 | 96.6% |
|  | A cohort of 58 graduates in the earnings cohort underpins the [median earnings of $78,989](/school/university-of-maine/outcomes/) that [University of Maine](/school/university-of-maine/majors/) reports for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 41 | Rowan University · Glassboro, NJ | $78,834 | $22,408 | $15,305 | 77.7% |
|  | [Rowan University](/school/rowan-university/majors/) [ranks 208th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/rowan-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a median federal debt of $19,875 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 42 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Pittsburgh, PA | $77,608 | $30,434 | $14,709 | 58.1% |
|  | [University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus](/school/university-of-pittsburgh-pittsburgh-campus/majors/) shows an [average net price of $30,434](/school/university-of-pittsburgh-pittsburgh-campus/cost/) and median earnings of $77,608 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 43 | University of Vermont · Burlington, VT | $77,342 | $19,343 | $11,127 | 65.3% |
|  | An [admission rate of 65%](/school/university-of-vermont/admissions/) and a median federal debt of $21,500 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed are the figures for [University of Vermont](/school/university-of-vermont/majors/). |
| 44 | Norwich University · Northfield, VT | $75,713 | $22,257 | $15,610 | 74.4% |
|  | [Norwich University](/school/norwich-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Northfield, reports [median earnings of $75,713](/school/norwich-university/outcomes/) for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 45 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute · Utica, NY | $75,078 | $14,164 | $7,442 | 81.4% |
|  | [SUNY Polytechnic Institute](/school/suny-polytechnic-institute/majors/) ranks 45th on this list, with an [average net price of $7,442](/school/suny-polytechnic-institute/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 46 | Lafayette College · Easton, PA | $65,238 | $34,433 | $12,716 | 31.5% |
|  | [Lafayette College](/school/lafayette-college/majors/) [admits 31% of applicants](/school/lafayette-college/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $65,238 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. |

## 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 Northeast appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after they finished. For 1 of the 46 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 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and second-ranked Columbia University in the City of New York is $220.

## Job market context in the Northeast

Civil Engineering graduates in the Northeast enter occupations such as Civil Engineers and Engineers, All Other. Across those occupations the median annual wage is $106,998, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $84,421. Projections for 2024 to 2034 show about 7,250 openings a year, or about 264 openings a year for every hundred graduates, with more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 2.6% higher. 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 broader occupations and are not the same measure.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Civil Engineering Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the Northeast](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Civil Engineering Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-civil-engineering-programs-in-the-midwest/)
-   [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 Northeast](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-the-northeast/)
-   Engineering Colleges in the Northeast for Social Mobility