Compare 76 Civil Engineering. programs in the South. Average earnings: $71,993.
With top graduates earning $87,026, Civil Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $15K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
George Washington University leads with Civil Engineering graduates earning $87,026, followed closely by Vanderbilt University at $84,716 and the University of Virginia at $84,135. Against the regional average of $71,993, these outcomes show that program-specific factors—not just institutional reputation—drive career results.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Rice University graduates borrow $11,000 and face just a 2.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, The University of Texas at Arlington leads with a 7.6% family burden—proof that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $87,026
Strong outcomes ($83,146) with 84% acceptance
2.6% payment burden | Excellent
7.6% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $87,026 | 22 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Good |
| #2 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $84,716 | 17 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good |
| #3 | $84,135 | 28 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Good | |
| #4 | $83,146 | 25 | $26,000 | Excellent | $50,215 | Challenging | |
| #5 | University Of HoustonPublic | $82,614 | 62 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Good |
| #6 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $82,475 | 81 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,142 | Good |
| #7 | $82,297 | 140 | $21,672 | Excellent | $32,216 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $82,103 | 144 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #9 | $82,035 | 252 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $81,235 | 99 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Manageable | |
| #11 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $80,974 | 114 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,443 | Good |
| #12 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $80,364 | 19 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Manageable |
| #13 | $80,055 | 42 | $21,096 | Excellent | $33,899 | Manageable | |
| #14 | $79,903 | 105 | $17,527 | Excellent | $12,313 | Excellent | |
| #15 | $79,749 | 129 | $16,500 | Excellent | $13,610 | Excellent | |
| #16 | University Of FloridaPublic | $79,578 | 145 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Good |
| #17 | University Of DelawarePublic | $79,314 | 73 | $24,572 | Excellent | $43,000 | Manageable |
| #18 | $78,604 | 121 | $22,750 | Excellent | $48,666 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $77,833 | 119 | $20,500 | Excellent | $25,645 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $77,793 | 41 | $19,500 | Excellent | $17,353 | Good | |
| #21 | $76,849 | 88 | $21,500 | Excellent | $31,393 | Manageable | |
| #22 | $76,702 | 76 | $17,137 | Excellent | $15,463 | Good | |
| #23 | $76,320 | 121 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Good | |
| #24 | $76,247 | 189 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Manageable | |
| #25 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $75,853 | 138 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,463 | Manageable |
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 →
