Compare 230 Civil Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $84,674. Top programs: $108,548+.
With top graduates earning $106,533, Civil Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $32K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
University of Southern California's Civil Engineering program leads with graduates earning $106,533, while the average across 228 programs is $74,851. But the real story is San Jose State University at #3, producing graduates earning $96,098 with an 80% acceptance rate—demonstrating that accessible programs can deliver exceptional outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Cornell University graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 2.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, Cal State LA leads with a 5.6% family burden, proving that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $106,533
Strong outcomes ($96,098) with 80% acceptance
2.6% payment burden | Excellent
5.6% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $108,548 | 106 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Excellent | |
| #2 | $108,466 | 18 | $15,000 | Excellent | $17,804 | Excellent | |
| #3 | $108,246 | 18 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #4 | $106,308 | 34 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #5 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $105,594 | 20 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Manageable |
| #6 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $105,199 | 34 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Good |
| #7 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | $103,223 | 27 | $19,500 | Excellent | $58,361 | Manageable |
| #8 | $101,072 | 130 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #9 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $100,990 | 22 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Good |
| #10 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $100,613 | 89 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Good |
| #11 | $97,790 | 277 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Excellent | |
| #12 | $97,123 | 75 | $13,872 | Excellent | $13,522 | Excellent | |
| #13 | $97,092 | 87 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Good | |
| #14 | $96,354 | 123 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Excellent | |
| #15 | $95,939 | 127 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Excellent | |
| #16 | Manhattan UniversityPrivate | $95,877 | 99 | $26,000 | Excellent | $56,630 | Manageable |
| #17 | $95,865 | 227 | $15,000 | Excellent | $25,565 | Good | |
| #18 | $95,854 | 124 | $13,750 | Excellent | $16,538 | Excellent | |
| #19 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | $95,693 | 23 | $27,000 | Excellent | $62,750 | Challenging |
| #20 | $95,271 | 143 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #21 | $94,960 | 81 | $19,500 | Excellent | $46,340 | Manageable | |
| #22 | New York UniversityPrivate | $94,867 | 42 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | Challenging |
| #23 | $94,760 | 73 | $13,000 | Excellent | $12,526 | Excellent | |
| #24 | Colorado School Of MinesPublic | $94,228 | 81 | $23,000 | Excellent | $53,505 | Manageable |
| #25 | $93,977 | 31 | $23,250 | Excellent | $30,611 | Good |
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 →
