Best Civil Engineering Programs in the South (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Engineering Colleges in the South
Regional list from Best Civil Engineering Programs in the United States
This page ranks 74 Civil Engineering programs in the South by median earnings of Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. George Washington University leads the list with median earnings of $100,990 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $100,990 to $47,260, with a median of $83,280. For 6 of the 74 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 89% of the list, with 66 public and 8 private nonprofit schools represented. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley posts the lowest average net price at $4,831.
The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington University · Washington, DC | $100,990 | $36,586 | $17,440 | 47.1% |
| George Washington University reports median earnings of $100,990 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 22 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $95,271 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| The University of Texas at Austin ranks 2nd on this list and posts an admission rate of 27% alongside an average net price of $19,857. | |||||
| 3 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $93,856 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at George Mason University left with a median of $19,500 in federal loans, and the school's Civil Engineering graduates earned a median of $93,856 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | The Catholic University of America · Washington, DC | $93,821 | $29,561 | $17,358 | 82.8% |
| The Catholic University of America, a private nonprofit university in Washington, ranks 1029th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $93,821 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $93,280 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
| University of Maryland-College Park carries an average net price of $2,962 for families earning under $30,000 and its Civil Engineering graduates earned a median of $93,280 four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $92,433 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station ranks 6th on this list, with 202 graduates in the earnings cohort and a median of $92,433 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA | $91,651 | $21,565 | $8,174 | 16.8% |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus admits 17% of applicants, and its Civil Engineering graduates earned a median of $91,651 four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN | $91,615 | $14,265 | $9,876 | 81.1% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga reports median earnings of $91,615 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside a school-wide median federal debt of $19,500 for borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 9 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | $89,969 | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
| Texas Tech University ranks 86th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $19,070. | |||||
| 10 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $89,653 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
| University of Houston reports median earnings of $89,653 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $10,929 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 11 | Lamar University · Beaumont, TX | $89,250 | $9,366 | $7,568 | 86.4% |
| Lamar University ranks 11th on this list and carries an average net price of $9,366, with 18 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 12 | Morgan State University · Baltimore, MD | $88,870 | $14,985 | $9,585 | 82.2% |
| Morgan State University reports median earnings of $88,870 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $27,250 in federal loans. | |||||
| 13 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $88,142 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reports median earnings of $88,142 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $11,689 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 14 | The University of Texas at Tyler · Tyler, TX | $88,102 | $13,323 | $10,307 | 94.0% |
| The University of Texas at Tyler admits 94% of applicants and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $88,102 four years after completing. | |||||
| 15 | The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL | $87,685 | $22,420 | $19,169 | 76.7% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $22,750 in federal loans at The University of Alabama, where the Civil Engineering program reports median earnings of $87,685 four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $87,684 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
| University of Georgia ranks 95th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $87,684 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | University of Delaware · Newark, DE | $87,015 | $17,799 | $10,901 | 70.6% |
| An average net price of $17,799 at University of Delaware coincides with median earnings of $87,015 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 18 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus · Stillwater, OK | $86,890 | $17,447 | $12,243 | 75.0% |
| With a cohort of 58 graduates in the earnings data, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $86,890 for its Civil Engineering program four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $86,844 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
| The University of Texas at Arlington holds an admission rate of 80% and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $86,844 four years after completing. | |||||
| 20 | University of Central Florida · Orlando, FL | $86,803 | $10,411 | $5,816 | 40.1% |
| University of Central Florida reports median earnings of $86,803 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $5,816 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 21 | Florida Institute of Technology · Melbourne, FL | $86,536 | $35,639 | $29,108 | 57.7% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Melbourne, Florida Institute of Technology shows median federal debt of $27,000 across all of its borrowers who completed, alongside Civil Engineering earnings of $86,536 four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $86,453 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
| University of Florida ranks 29th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $86,453 four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA | $86,128 | $13,530 | $11,157 | 87.0% |
| A cohort of 30 graduates underpins the median earnings of $86,128 that University of Louisiana at Lafayette reports for its Civil Engineering program four years after completing. | |||||
| 24 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA | $85,627 | $19,151 | $13,056 | 73.3% |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College admits 73% of applicants and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $85,627 four years after completing. | |||||
| 25 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $85,568 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh reports median earnings of $85,568 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 107 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 26 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus · Norman, OK | $85,332 | $15,300 | $10,509 | 76.6% |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus admits 77% of applicants and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $85,332 four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus · Atlanta, GA | $85,133 | $12,116 | $7,666 | 14.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $21,672 in federal loans at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, which ranks 49th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 28 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | $84,873 | $22,253 | $13,607 | 38.3% |
| Clemson University posts an average net price of $22,253 and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $84,873 four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $84,789 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
| University of South Florida ranks 29th on this list, with median earnings of $84,789 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 30 | Florida Atlantic University · Boca Raton, FL | $84,778 | $8,752 | $3,022 | 66.1% |
| An average net price of $3,022 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with a median of $84,778 in earnings for Civil Engineering graduates of Florida Atlantic University four years after completing. | |||||
| 31 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $84,523 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
| Florida International University reports a median of $84,523 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 55%. | |||||
| 32 | Florida Gulf Coast University · Fort Myers, FL | $84,451 | $12,568 | $8,220 | 63.4% |
| An admission rate of 63% at Florida Gulf Coast University sits alongside median earnings of $84,451 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $84,340 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
| Median federal debt of $18,000 across all of Florida State University's borrowers who completed sits alongside median earnings of $84,340 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $84,166 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio admits 87% of applicants and posts an average net price of $10,836. | |||||
| 35 | University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia, SC | $84,148 | $22,811 | $12,634 | 60.2% |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia reports median earnings of $84,148 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 72 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 36 | Prairie View A & M University · Prairie View, TX | $84,082 | $13,570 | $12,120 | 79.3% |
| An average net price of $12,120 for families earning under $30,000 at Prairie View A & M University coincides with a median of $84,082 in earnings for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 37 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $83,289 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte reports median earnings of $83,289 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,435. | |||||
| 38 | Arkansas State University · Jonesboro, AR | $83,270 | $12,366 | $10,098 | 82.3% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Arkansas State University left with a median of $20,500 in federal loans, and the program's Civil Engineering completers earned a median of $83,270 four years after completing. | |||||
| 39 | Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw, GA | $83,012 | $15,048 | $12,235 | 69.2% |
| Kennesaw State University ranks 24th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $83,012 in median earnings for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 40 | Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN | $82,744 | $15,846 | $3,414 | 5.9% |
| Vanderbilt University, a private nonprofit university in Nashville, admits 6% of applicants and posts an average net price of $3,414 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 41 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $82,703 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
| Old Dominion University ranks 41st on this list, with median earnings of $82,703 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 90%. | |||||
| 42 | West Virginia University · Morgantown, WV | $82,117 | $15,634 | $9,450 | 89.0% |
| West Virginia University shows an average net price of $15,634 and median earnings of $82,117 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 43 | Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA | $81,524 | $11,864 | $7,676 | 86.4% |
| Louisiana Tech University reports median earnings of $81,524 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 20 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 44 | Mississippi State University · Mississippi State, MS | $81,203 | $17,595 | $14,332 | 77.6% |
| Mississippi State University ranks 299th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Civil Engineering graduates earned a median of $81,203 four years after completing. | |||||
| 45 | LeTourneau University · Longview, TX | $81,065 | $28,185 | $22,785 | 38.0% |
| LeTourneau University, a private nonprofit institution in Longview, reports an average net price of $22,785 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $81,065 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 46 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina · Charleston, SC | $81,055 | $20,723 | $15,430 | 22.7% |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina admits 23% of applicants, and its Civil Engineering graduates earned a median of $81,055 four years after completing. | |||||
| 47 | University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY | $81,031 | $18,851 | $12,182 | 92.9% |
| University of Kentucky reports median earnings of $81,031 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $22,500 in federal loans. | |||||
| 48 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN | $80,958 | $18,976 | $10,029 | 41.6% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville ranks 48th on this list, with an average net price of $18,976 and median earnings of $80,958 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 49 | University of New Orleans · New Orleans, LA | $80,704 | $12,384 | $11,532 | 74.3% |
| University of New Orleans reports median earnings of $80,704 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $12,384. | |||||
| 50 | University of Louisville · Louisville, KY | $80,681 | $17,988 | $15,138 | 79.4% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at University of Louisville left with a median of $20,500 in federal loans, and the school's Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $80,681 four years after completing. | |||||
| 51 | University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR | $79,929 | $18,209 | $14,319 | 74.3% |
| University of Arkansas admits 74% of applicants and reports $79,929 in median earnings for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $79,778 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
| With a 46% admission rate, Auburn University posts median earnings of $79,778 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | University of Memphis · Memphis, TN | $79,598 | $12,397 | $10,607 | 72.0% |
| University of Memphis reports an average net price of $10,607 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $79,598 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 54 | University of Alabama in Huntsville · Huntsville, AL | $78,858 | $18,796 | $16,192 | 68.6% |
| A school-wide median federal debt of $20,705 accompanies median earnings of $78,858 for University of Alabama in Huntsville's Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | Jackson State University · Jackson, MS | $78,824 | $23,836 | $22,869 | 93.2% |
| Jackson State University reports median earnings of $78,824 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $22,869 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 56 | Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN | $78,646 | $14,246 | $9,815 | 76.1% |
| Tennessee Technological University posts median earnings of $78,646 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $15,650 in federal loans. | |||||
| 57 | University of South Alabama · Mobile, AL | $78,187 | $17,648 | $12,657 | 71.0% |
| University of South Alabama reports an average net price of $12,657 for families earning under $30,000, and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $78,187 four years after completing. | |||||
| 58 | University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham, AL | $78,054 | $18,749 | $16,172 | 88.2% |
| An admission rate of 88% and median earnings of $78,054 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing are reported by University of Alabama at Birmingham. | |||||
| 59 | Georgia Southern University · Statesboro, GA | $78,034 | $15,267 | $12,162 | 87.9% |
| Georgia Southern University reports median earnings of $78,034 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $15,267. | |||||
| 60 | University of North Florida · Jacksonville, FL | $77,498 | $10,154 | $6,647 | 53.2% |
| University of North Florida reports an average net price of $6,647 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $77,498 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 61 | Virginia Military Institute · Lexington, VA | $76,991 | $17,113 | $12,697 | 71.3% |
| Virginia Military Institute reports median earnings of $76,991 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 57 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 62 | North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC | $76,508 | $10,846 | $8,223 | 49.9% |
| North Carolina A & T State University admits 50% of applicants and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $76,508 four years after completing. | |||||
| 63 | The University of Texas at El Paso · El Paso, TX | $75,882 | $9,403 | $7,863 | 99.9% |
| With an admission rate of 100%, The University of Texas at El Paso reports median earnings of $75,882 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 64 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $75,732 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 93.9% |
| Western Kentucky University reports an average net price of $10,990 and median earnings of $75,732 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 65 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville · Kingsville, TX | $75,033 | $12,090 | $10,207 | 90.9% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Texas A&M University-Kingsville left with a median of $22,934 in federal loans, and the school's Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $75,033 four years after completing. | |||||
| 66 | Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX | $73,737 | $40,892 | $23,544 | 63.4% |
| A private nonprofit university in Dallas, Southern Methodist University reports an average net price of $40,892 and median earnings of $73,737 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 67 | Rice University · Houston, TX | $71,957 | $13,370 | $5,827 | 8.0% |
| Rice University admits 8% of applicants and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $71,957 four years after completing. | |||||
| 68 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · Edinburg, TX | $71,848 | $4,831 | $3,785 | 94.2% |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reports an average net price of $4,831, the lowest on this list, and median earnings of $71,848 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 69 | Texas Southern University · Houston, TX | $71,595 | $16,590 | $16,437 | 96.9% |
| Texas Southern University reports median earnings of $71,595 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with a school-wide median federal debt of $29,000 for borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 70 | Southern University and A & M College · Baton Rouge, LA | $68,016 | $20,077 | $19,047 | 35.1% |
| Southern University and A & M College admits 35% of applicants and its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median of $68,016 four years after completing. | |||||
| 71 | Tennessee State University · Nashville, TN | $58,221 | $15,796 | $15,005 | 70.1% |
| Tennessee State University reports an average net price of $15,796 and median earnings of $58,221 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 72 | Howard University · Washington, DC | $50,856 | $50,539 | $46,051 | 41.3% |
| A private nonprofit university in Washington, Howard University reports an average net price of $50,539 and median earnings of $50,856 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 73 | University of Mississippi · University, MS | $49,840 | $13,314 | $8,945 | 96.6% |
| University of Mississippi ranks 73rd on this list, with median earnings of $49,840 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 74 | Alabama A & M University · Normal, AL | $47,260 | $17,621 | $16,500 | 58.0% |
| Alabama A & M University reports an average net price of $16,500 for families earning under $30,000 and an admission rate of 58%. | |||||
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 South appear. The figure is the median for federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 6 of the 74 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 George Washington University and The University of Texas at Austin is $5,719.
Job market context in the South
Civil Engineering graduates in the South enter a labor market that links to occupations such as Civil Engineers and Engineers, All Other. The median annual wage across those occupations is $103,568, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $80,778. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 8.5% higher, with 18,320 projected openings a year, or about 378 openings a year for every hundred graduates, suggesting more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of graduates four years after completing, not the occupational wage figures shown here.