Best Civil Engineering Programs in the West (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Engineering Colleges in the West
Regional list from Best Civil Engineering Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 52 Civil Engineering programs in the West by the median earnings of Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. University of California-Berkeley leads the list with median earnings of $108,548 for its graduates four years after completing.
The figures range from $108,548 to $58,221, with a median of $90,036 across the listed programs. For 2 of the 52 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 81% of the list, or 42 of the 52 programs, alongside 10 private nonprofits. California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price at $3,967.
University of California-San Diego ranks 1st 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 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $108,548 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley reports median earnings of $108,548 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 11%. | |||||
| 2 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $106,308 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, University of Southern California ranks 2nd on this list and shows median federal debt of $8,125 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 3 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $105,594 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
| Santa Clara University posts an average net price of $50,062, while graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $19,162 in federal loans. | |||||
| 4 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $103,223 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
| With median earnings of $103,223 four years after completing, Loyola Marymount University ranks 931st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 5 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $101,072 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo admits 31% of applicants and reports median earnings of $101,072 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $97,790 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
| An average net price of $11,531 accompanies California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's median earnings of $97,790 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $97,123 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| California State University-Northridge reports median federal debt of $19,834 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $97,123 four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $97,092 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| University of California-Los Angeles has an admission rate of 9% and median earnings of $97,092 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $96,354 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| Ranking 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of California-Irvine reports an average net price of $14,251. | |||||
| 10 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $95,939 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
| University of California-Davis shows median federal debt of $16,000 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed, with median earnings of $95,939 four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $95,865 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| San Diego State University reports median earnings of $95,865 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 36%. | |||||
| 12 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $95,854 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
| California State University-Fullerton carries an average net price of $6,555 and ranks 6th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 13 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $94,960 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
| University of Colorado Boulder reports median earnings of $94,960 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 81 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 14 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $94,760 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
| California State University-Los Angeles carries an average net price of $3,967, the lowest on this list, and ranks 3rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 15 | Colorado School of Mines · Golden, CO | $94,228 | $28,690 | $16,849 | 60.7% |
| Colorado School of Mines, a public university in Golden, admits 61% of applicants and posts median federal debt of $23,402 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 16 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $93,973 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
| California State University-Sacramento ranks 16th on this list and shows an average net price of $6,501 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 17 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $92,472 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| An admission rate of 93% and median earnings of $92,472 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing are reported by California State University-Chico. | |||||
| 18 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus · Denver, CO | $92,224 | $11,900 | $6,743 | 74.7% |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ranks 130th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median federal debt of $29,605 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 19 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $92,010 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
| With an admission rate of 39%, University of Washington-Seattle Campus reports median earnings of $92,010 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 20 | Washington State University · Pullman, WA | $91,879 | $14,971 | $7,074 | 86.6% |
| Washington State University ranks 20th on this list, with an average net price of $7,074 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 21 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $91,745 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| University of California-San Diego reports median earnings of $91,745 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing and ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 22 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $91,602 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
| Median federal debt of $17,937 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed and an admission rate of 86% are shown by University of Arizona. | |||||
| 23 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $90,894 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
| San Francisco State University reports median earnings of $90,894 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 65 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 24 | University of the Pacific · Stockton, CA | $90,510 | $25,447 | $17,004 | 71.3% |
| University of the Pacific, a private nonprofit university in Stockton, carries an average net price of $25,447 and reports median earnings of $90,510 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 25 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV | $90,474 | $10,359 | $8,526 | 96.2% |
| With 66 graduates in the earnings cohort, University of Nevada-Las Vegas reports median earnings of $90,474 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 26 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $90,251 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
| California Baptist University admits 85% of applicants and carries an average net price of $22,298 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 27 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $89,822 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
| Oregon State University ranks 27th on this list, with median federal debt of $22,500 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 28 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $89,457 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
| California State University-Long Beach posts an admission rate of 46% and ranks 5th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 29 | University of Portland · Portland, OR | $89,448 | $28,210 | $20,070 | 89.2% |
| University of Portland reports median earnings of $89,448 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $28,210. | |||||
| 30 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $89,233 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion carries median federal debt of $22,500 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed and an average net price of $9,070 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 31 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $88,184 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
| Northern Arizona University ranks 127th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $88,184 four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $88,001 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins admits 89% of applicants and reports an average net price of $13,259 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 33 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $87,627 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
| California State University-Fresno reports median earnings of $87,627 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside median federal debt of $15,267 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 34 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $87,286 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa ranks 34th on this list, with an average net price of $15,664 and a cohort of 83 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 35 | Gonzaga University · Spokane, WA | $86,942 | $35,119 | $20,833 | 81.7% |
| A private nonprofit university in Spokane, Gonzaga University shows median earnings of $86,942 four years after completing and an admission rate of 82%. | |||||
| 36 | University of Alaska Fairbanks · Fairbanks, AK | $86,819 | $10,892 | $7,992 | Not reported |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks carries median federal debt of $14,500 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed and an average net price of $7,992 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 37 | University of Idaho · Moscow, ID | $86,310 | $14,831 | $11,270 | 75.5% |
| Ranked 37th on this list, University of Idaho reports median earnings of $86,310 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 38 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $86,084 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
| A public university in Portland, Portland State University admits 91% of applicants and ranks 135th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 39 | University of Alaska Anchorage · Anchorage, AK | $85,650 | $15,301 | $11,582 | Not reported |
| University of Alaska Anchorage posts median federal debt of $23,500 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $85,650 four years after completing. | |||||
| 40 | Saint Martin's University · Lacey, WA | $85,276 | $28,119 | $22,810 | 89.8% |
| Saint Martin's University reports an average net price of $22,810 for families earning under $30,000 and admits 90% of applicants. | |||||
| 41 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | $85,097 | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
| University of Utah ranks 41st on this list, with median earnings of $85,097 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 42 | University of Wyoming · Laramie, WY | $83,184 | $13,599 | $7,977 | 96.9% |
| With an admission rate of 97%, University of Wyoming reports median federal debt of $23,500 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 43 | Montana State University · Bozeman, MT | $82,785 | $22,499 | $17,797 | 82.1% |
| Montana State University shows median earnings of $82,785 four years after completing, drawn from a cohort of 66 graduates. | |||||
| 44 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $81,933 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus ranks 150th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $15,489. | |||||
| 45 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $81,928 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Provo, Brigham Young University posts median federal debt of $8,500 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed and median earnings of $81,928 four years after completing. | |||||
| 46 | Seattle University · Seattle, WA | $81,559 | $34,662 | $22,896 | 76.9% |
| Seattle University reports an average net price of $22,896 for families earning under $30,000 and admits 77% of applicants. | |||||
| 47 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $81,405 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
| Boise State University ranks 47th on this list, with median earnings of $81,405 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 48 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $81,201 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
| University of Nevada-Reno carries median federal debt of $22,342 among Civil Engineering completers who borrowed, alongside an average net price of $15,927. | |||||
| 49 | Oregon Institute of Technology · Klamath Falls, OR | $76,642 | $15,706 | $9,085 | 95.0% |
| Oregon Institute of Technology reports median earnings of $76,642 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 29 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 50 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $74,845 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
| San Jose State University ranks 23rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $74,845 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 51 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus · Las Cruces, NM | $74,115 | $8,889 | $6,648 | 89.0% |
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus carries an average net price of $8,889 and ranks 235th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 52 | Idaho State University · Pocatello, ID | $58,221 | $12,193 | $10,593 | Not reported |
| Idaho State University reports median earnings of $58,221 for its Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 5 graduates. | |||||
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 West appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. For 2 of the 52 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 range from top to bottom is $50,327, and the gap between University of California-Berkeley and University of Southern California is $2,240.
Job market context in the West
The occupations linked to Civil Engineering in the West include roles such as Civil Engineers and Engineers, All Other. The median annual wage across those occupations is $116,127, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $92,398. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 9.1% higher, with 15,240 projected openings a year, or about 372 openings a year for every hundred graduates, suggesting more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. These market figures describe the occupations, not the earnings of any listed program; the ranking above is ordered by the median earnings of Civil Engineering graduates four years after completing.