Which state pays civil engineering bachelor's graduates the most?

Virginia, where the median program pays its graduates $74,285 in their first year, the highest of 16 state rankings. California is next, at $73,541.

Which civil engineering bachelor's program pays the most?

Loyola Marymount University in California reports the highest first-year pay of the 207 programs ranked here, $87,790. Its median federal debt is $27,000.

How much debt do civil engineering bachelor's graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $24,500 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 35% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Civil Engineering (Bachelor's) Programs in the US

207 programs report first-year pay
16 state rankings
Bachelor's in Civil Engineering

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median civil engineering bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $69,582 in their first year and $85,897 five years after. Virginia has the highest state median ($74,285), and Alabama the lowest ($64,122). The median program leaves its graduates with $24,500 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$69,582Across 207 programs

Median pay after 5 years$85,897Across 202 programs

Median federal debt$24,500Across 204 programs

Debt-to-earnings35%Across 203 programs

All 207 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · private nonprofit	$87,790	$79,290	Not reported	$27,000	31%
2	USCLos Angeles, CA · private nonprofit	$85,262	Not adjusted	$116,779	$8,125	10%
3	Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA · private nonprofit	$84,883	Not adjusted	$111,831	Not reported	Not reported
4	Cal Poly SLOSan Luis Obispo, CA · public	$80,673	$72,862	$101,618	$20,424	25%
5	Montana Technological UniversityButte, MT · public	$80,327	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
6	Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · private nonprofit	$80,261	Not adjusted	$100,258	$12,750	16%
7	Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PA · private nonprofit	$80,231	Not adjusted	$88,296	$27,000	34%
8	UC BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · public	$78,142	$70,576	$104,581	$14,392	18%
9	Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, MI · private nonprofit	$77,836	Not adjusted	Not reported	$30,197	39%
10	Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC · private nonprofit	$77,501	Not adjusted	$103,238	$24,750	32%
11	University of MarylandCollege Park, MD · public	$76,731	$73,106	$90,438	$21,437	28%
12	WPIWorcester, MA · private nonprofit	$76,419	$72,259	$97,994	$27,000	35%
13	Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$76,362	Not adjusted	$94,368	$24,750	32%
14	George MasonFairfax, VA · public	$75,822	$74,994	$95,921	$23,812	31%
15	Texas A&MCollege Station, TX · public	$75,793	$78,091	$95,279	$19,500	26%
16	Cal Poly PomonaPomona, CA · public	$75,758	$68,423	$99,934	$16,500	22%
17	Georgia TechAtlanta, GA · public	$75,688	$78,602	$91,461	$22,957	30%
18	Merrimack CollegeNorth Andover, MA · private nonprofit	$75,556	$71,443	Not reported	$27,000	36%
19	UCLALos Angeles, CA · public	$75,510	$68,199	$102,084	$19,444	26%
20	Manhattan UniversityRiverdale, NY · private nonprofit	$75,290	$69,764	$105,202	$27,000	36%
21	UC DavisDavis, CA · public	$75,165	$67,887	$98,091	$16,101	21%
22	UT AustinAustin, TX · public	$75,153	$77,432	$93,173	$21,030	28%
23	Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$75,001	$70,918	$90,759	$27,000	36%
24	Washington StatePullman, WA · public	$74,841	$69,936	$89,281	$22,450	30%
25	University of HoustonHouston, TX · public	$74,822	$77,091	$91,240	$18,000	24%
26	UVACharlottesville, VA · public	$74,772	Not adjusted	$95,518	$14,903	20%
27	Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · private nonprofit	$74,748	$69,262	$97,093	$27,000	36%
28	Texas TechLubbock, TX · public	$74,655	$76,919	$91,736	$27,000	36%
29	Notre DameNotre Dame, IN · private nonprofit	$74,499	Not adjusted	$94,259	$20,100	27%
30	PurdueWest Lafayette, IN · public	$74,369	Not adjusted	$85,536	$19,500	26%
31	Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA · private nonprofit	$74,355	$69,482	$85,891	$25,000	34%
32	Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA · public	$74,285	$73,474	$84,707	$25,760	35%
33	Case WesternCleveland, OH · private nonprofit	$74,266	Not adjusted	Not reported	$25,190	34%
34	Stevens Institute of TechnologyHoboken, NJ · private nonprofit	$74,011	$68,022	$96,100	$27,000	36%
35	UC IrvineIrvine, CA · public	$73,835	$66,686	$94,661	$19,700	27%
36	Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyTerre Haute, IN · private nonprofit	$73,821	$79,098	$89,394	$24,132	33%
37	San Diego StateSan Diego, CA · public	$73,584	$66,460	$96,325	$19,832	27%
38	Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA · private nonprofit	$73,545	Not adjusted	$90,786	$27,000	37%
39	California Baptist UniversityRiverside, CA · private nonprofit	$73,497	$66,381	$97,633	$27,000	37%
40	Wayne StateDetroit, MI · public	$73,488	$76,377	$80,725	$30,548	42%
41	UIUCChampaign, IL · public	$73,397	$73,428	$90,751	$19,054	26%
42	University of WashingtonSeattle, WA · public	$73,357	$68,550	$93,627	$14,874	20%
43	Cal State Long BeachLong Beach, CA · public	$73,342	$66,241	$98,200	$16,437	22%
44	University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · public	$73,327	$76,150	Not reported	$26,744	36%
45	Colorado StateFort Collins, CO · public	$73,326	$71,154	$85,902	$25,480	35%
46	University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND · public	$73,260	Not adjusted	$86,788	$26,600	36%
47	Cal State LALos Angeles, CA · public	$73,178	$66,093	$99,644	$18,767	26%
48	Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, CT · private nonprofit	$73,064	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	37%
49	CU BoulderBoulder, CO · public	$73,033	$70,870	$85,000	$20,500	28%
50	Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee, WI · private nonprofit	$72,940	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
51	University of FloridaGainesville, FL · public	$72,889	$70,483	$87,493	$20,121	28%
52	University of DelawareNewark, DE · public	$72,783	Not adjusted	$88,414	$25,500	35%
53	North Dakota StateFargo, ND · public	$72,729	Not adjusted	$81,230	$25,500	35%
54	NYUNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$72,628	$67,297	$95,184	$21,905	30%
55	Cal State FullertonFullerton, CA · public	$72,606	$65,576	$93,096	$13,548	19%
56	Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL · private nonprofit	$72,573	$72,603	$82,851	$27,000	37%
57	Iowa StateAmes, IA · public	$72,502	Not adjusted	$86,261	$25,250	35%
58	CU DenverDenver, CO · public	$72,362	$70,219	$84,328	$38,460	53%
59	Chico StateChico, CA · public	$72,350	$65,345	$101,629	$21,583	30%
60	University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · public	$72,156	$72,985	$81,863	$24,426	34%
61	University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage, AK · public	$72,140	Not adjusted	$98,861	$31,000	43%
62	University of PortlandPortland, OR · private nonprofit	$72,094	Not adjusted	$86,439	$23,250	32%
63	Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$72,087	$73,881	$88,709	$31,000	43%
64	Michigan StateEast Lansing, MI · public	$72,048	$74,881	$87,138	$27,000	37%
65	Central Connecticut StateNew Britain, CT · public	$71,859	$69,355	$92,467	$31,000	43%
66	Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY · public	$71,856	$66,582	Not reported	$17,250	24%
67	RPITroy, NY · private nonprofit	$71,790	$66,521	$94,283	$26,979	38%
68	Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL · private nonprofit	$71,760	$71,790	$84,660	$26,000	36%
69	TCNJEwing, NJ · public	$71,649	$65,851	Not reported	$26,500	37%
70	Saint Martin's UniversityLacey, WA · private nonprofit	$71,601	$66,909	$92,987	$23,616	33%
71	Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA · private nonprofit	$71,525	Not adjusted	$87,148	$27,000	38%
72	University of DaytonDayton, OH · private nonprofit	$71,411	$76,973	$90,774	$26,500	37%
73	University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · public	$71,377	$76,936	$88,041	$24,500	34%
74	Sacramento StateSacramento, CA · public	$71,342	$64,435	$95,595	$19,124	27%
75	University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK · public	$71,312	$69,669	$92,380	$13,750	19%
76	UW-MadisonMadison, WI · public	$71,246	$75,717	$83,988	$23,250	33%
77	Oklahoma StateStillwater, OK · public	$71,176	$81,026	Not reported	$23,250	33%
78	Fresno StateFresno, CA · public	$71,093	$64,210	$93,213	$15,267	21%
79	Michigan TechHoughton, MI · public	$70,928	$73,717	$85,298	$26,000	37%
80	ASUTempe, AZ · public	$70,721	$70,245	$87,208	$23,750	34%
81	Morgan StateBaltimore, MD · public	$70,667	$67,328	$73,164	$26,500	37%
82	Missouri S&TRolla, MO · public	$70,664	$77,809	$81,245	$27,000	38%
83	Oregon StateCorvallis, OR · public	$70,635	$68,338	$89,866	$25,000	35%
84	UT ArlingtonArlington, TX · public	$70,629	$72,771	$89,430	$20,542	29%
85	University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · public	$70,619	Not adjusted	$86,784	$25,454	36%
86	RutgersNew Brunswick, NJ · public	$70,609	$64,895	$89,751	$26,291	37%
87	University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · public	$70,542	$78,290	$79,612	$25,500	36%
88	University of New HavenWest Haven, CT · private nonprofit	$70,495	Not adjusted	$91,932	$27,000	38%
89	NC A&TGreensboro, NC · public	$70,474	Not adjusted	$76,058	$31,000	44%
90	Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA · private nonprofit	$70,391	Not adjusted	$90,802	$16,000	23%
91	UConnStorrs, CT · public	$70,388	$67,936	$90,694	$23,825	34%
91	University of ToledoToledo, OH · public	$70,388	$75,870	$76,345	$20,500	29%
93	NC StateRaleigh, NC · public	$70,346	$74,578	$84,995	$25,000	36%
94	UH ManoaHonolulu, HI · public	$70,330	$63,965	$86,161	$22,375	32%
95	University of IowaIowa City, IA · public	$70,313	Not adjusted	$85,051	$27,000	38%
96	Colorado School of MinesGolden, CO · public	$70,301	$68,219	$91,060	$25,000	36%
97	Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY · private nonprofit	$70,136	$64,988	$83,782	$27,000	38%
98	USFTampa, FL · public	$70,047	$67,735	$80,617	$23,000	33%
99	Minnesota State MankatoMankato, MN · public	$69,861	Not adjusted	$80,870	$25,234	36%
100	UMass AmherstAmherst, MA · public	$69,757	$65,960	$86,717	$27,000	39%
101	Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · public	$69,706	$72,447	$80,962	$29,156	42%
102	University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · public	$69,655	$69,187	$88,614	$18,500	27%
103	University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV · public	$69,629	$69,644	$88,453	$22,763	33%
104	UW-PlattevillePlatteville, WI · public	$69,582	$73,949	$81,237	$23,522	34%
105	University of MissouriColumbia, MO · public	$69,566	$76,600	$80,460	$26,828	39%
106	Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso, IN · private nonprofit	$69,549	$74,520	$80,194	$27,000	39%
107	University of South CarolinaColumbia, SC · public	$69,424	$74,053	$87,617	$27,000	39%
108	Clemson UniversityClemson, SC · public	$69,386	$74,013	$88,941	$25,750	37%
109	Purdue NorthwestHammond, IN · public	$69,339	$74,295	Not reported	$28,250	41%
110	UCFOrlando, FL · public	$69,321	$67,033	$86,452	$21,374	31%
111	UICChicago, IL · public	$69,310	$69,339	$83,670	$24,382	35%
112	Kansas StateManhattan, KS · public	$69,300	$76,942	$77,352	$25,250	36%
113	Widener UniversityChester, PA · private nonprofit	$69,289	$71,013	$78,441	$27,000	39%
114	UL LafayetteLafayette, LA · public	$69,177	$78,426	$80,744	$27,500	40%
115	Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA · private nonprofit	$69,151	$64,619	Not reported	$24,000	35%
116	South Dakota StateBrookings, SD · public	$69,129	$78,036	$77,672	$27,000	39%
117	University of IdahoMoscow, ID · public	$68,885	$72,135	$80,624	$21,500	31%
118	South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid City, SD · public	$68,755	Not adjusted	$77,157	$27,388	40%
119	University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI · public	$68,728	$67,196	$81,840	$24,708	36%
120	BYUProvo, UT · private nonprofit	$68,685	$69,474	$82,586	$9,370	14%
121	University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha, NE · public	$68,574	$76,106	$83,116	$23,891	35%
122	University of KansasLawrence, KS · public	$68,486	Not adjusted	$89,289	$26,000	38%
123	Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · public	$68,389	$70,091	$83,575	$26,665	39%
124	Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI · private nonprofit	$68,386	Not adjusted	$91,837	$27,000	39%
125	Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL · public	$68,291	$76,884	$81,856	$23,375	34%
126	NJITNewark, NJ · public	$68,288	$62,762	$85,574	$24,085	35%
127	San Francisco StateSan Francisco, CA · public	$68,256	$61,647	$100,807	$18,873	28%
128	Ohio Northern UniversityAda, OH · private nonprofit	$68,129	$73,435	$76,866	$25,961	38%
129	Ohio StateColumbus, OH · public	$68,031	$73,330	$82,114	$23,545	35%
130	Utah StateLogan, UT · public	$68,025	$68,807	$86,663	$17,225	25%
131	UTSASan Antonio, TX · public	$67,994	$70,056	$86,096	$27,986	41%
132	University of HartfordWest Hartford, CT · private nonprofit	$67,968	Not adjusted	$85,323	$25,532	38%
133	Penn StateUniversity Park, PA · public	$67,966	$69,657	$82,353	$26,838	39%
134	UNC CharlotteCharlotte, NC · public	$67,934	$72,020	$79,801	$23,500	35%
135	University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI · public	$67,764	Not adjusted	$88,870	$18,750	28%
136	Western New England UniversitySpringfield, MA · private nonprofit	$67,726	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	40%
137	UT TylerTyler, TX · public	$67,671	$69,723	$88,533	$22,670	34%
138	LSUBaton Rouge, LA · public	$67,552	$76,583	$88,199	$22,486	33%
139	Portland StatePortland, OR · public	$67,509	$65,314	$87,595	$31,000	46%
140	University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK · public	$67,452	$76,787	$88,173	$23,807	35%
141	University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV · public	$67,379	$67,393	$83,066	$23,250	35%
142	Montana StateBozeman, MT · public	$67,373	$71,185	$76,388	$21,031	31%
143	Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · public	$67,362	$61,911	$84,236	$23,000	34%
144	Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL · public	$67,260	$67,288	$83,754	$22,275	33%
145	City College of New YorkNew York, NY · public	$67,194	$62,262	$90,337	$17,500	26%
146	UMKCKansas City, MO · public	$67,076	$73,858	$83,248	$24,424	36%
147	WVUMorgantown, WV · public	$67,062	Not adjusted	$81,556	$24,291	36%
148	Florida StateTallahassee, FL · public	$67,050	$64,836	$86,289	$23,199	35%
149	University of KentuckyLexington, KY · public	$67,044	$74,362	$76,310	$23,625	35%
150	University of New HampshireDurham, NH · public	$67,035	$64,355	$83,294	$27,000	40%
151	University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA · public	$66,943	$68,609	$88,756	$27,000	40%
152	University of AkronAkron, OH · public	$66,820	$72,024	$77,310	$21,701	32%
153	Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ · public	$66,589	$66,141	$85,036	$28,000	42%
154	Texas A&M-KingsvilleKingsville, TX · public	$66,429	$68,443	$76,135	$24,625	37%
155	Cleveland StateCleveland, OH · public	$66,295	$71,459	$72,837	$29,750	45%
156	FIUMiami, FL · public	$66,215	$64,029	$88,016	$21,250	32%
157	University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY · public	$66,064	$73,275	$89,150	$24,503	37%
158	University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN · public	$65,835	$66,756	$82,596	$22,103	34%
159	Mississippi StateMississippi State, MS · public	$65,805	$75,679	$84,639	$21,219	32%
160	Trine UniversityAngola, IN · private nonprofit	$65,700	$70,396	$77,554	$27,000	41%
161	Boise StateBoise, ID · public	$65,648	$68,746	$79,687	$27,000	41%
162	University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL · public	$65,622	$63,456	$82,791	$23,622	36%
163	UC San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · public	$65,478	$59,138	$91,984	$16,400	25%
164	UT ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · public	$65,419	$71,208	$90,909	$20,747	32%
165	Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL · public	$65,269	$65,296	$78,165	$19,781	30%
166	Kennesaw StateKennesaw, GA · public	$65,259	$67,771	$86,768	$28,093	43%
167	University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN · public	$65,175	$66,086	$80,494	$26,044	40%
168	University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · public	$65,119	$73,825	$74,321	$21,750	33%
169	UMass LowellLowell, MA · public	$65,103	$61,559	$84,162	$27,000	41%
170	University of MaineOrono, ME · public	$64,785	$66,754	$75,894	$27,000	42%
171	University of MemphisMemphis, TN · public	$64,780	$70,513	$78,233	$29,750	46%
172	FAUBoca Raton, FL · public	$64,671	$62,536	$81,802	$23,866	37%
173	University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY · public	$64,604	$59,862	$76,516	$22,913	35%
174	University of WyomingLaramie, WY · public	$64,595	$69,689	$78,192	$26,000	40%
175	Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourne, FL · private nonprofit	$64,579	Not adjusted	$77,488	$23,000	36%
176	Oregon Institute of TechnologyKlamath Falls, OR · public	$64,425	$62,330	$84,507	$19,833	31%
177	Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers, FL · public	$64,411	$62,285	$80,720	$19,480	30%
178	University of TennesseeKnoxville, TN · public	$64,386	$70,084	$81,419	$21,450	33%
179	UW-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · public	$64,317	$68,353	$83,381	$28,000	44%
180	Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VA · public	$64,246	$63,544	$84,251	$25,000	39%
181	University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsville, AL · public	$64,122	$72,191	Not reported	$20,799	32%
182	Ohio UniversityAthens, OH · public	$63,884	$68,860	$79,566	$27,000	42%
183	SUNY Polytechnic InstituteUtica, NY · public	$63,637	$58,966	Not reported	$19,146	30%
184	Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TN · public	$63,577	$69,203	$75,845	$20,870	33%
185	Prairie View A&M UniversityPrairie View, TX · public	$63,372	$65,294	$81,913	Not reported	Not reported
186	Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GA · public	$63,195	$65,628	$76,963	$26,250	42%
187	UMass DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, MA · public	$63,158	$59,720	$72,965	$27,000	43%
188	CSUNNorthridge, CA · public	$62,768	$56,691	$88,971	$18,732	30%
189	UABBirmingham, AL · public	$62,283	$70,120	$84,553	$26,596	43%
190	University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR · public	$61,979	$71,292	$80,071	$26,875	43%
191	University of VermontBurlington, VT · public	$61,898	Not adjusted	$78,060	$22,375	36%
192	Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LA · public	$61,868	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	44%
193	Virginia Military InstituteLexington, VA · public	$61,547	Not adjusted	$80,733	$26,000	42%
194	Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, SC · public	$61,163	$65,241	$89,930	$24,500	40%
195	UTEPEl Paso, TX · public	$60,287	$62,115	$76,943	$16,293	27%
196	Southern UniversityBaton Rouge, LA · public	$60,219	Not adjusted	Not reported	$32,162	53%
197	New Mexico StateLas Cruces, NM · public	$60,212	$65,297	$87,875	$13,382	22%
198	Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY · public	$60,086	$66,644	$69,462	$22,100	37%
199	University of South AlabamaMobile, AL · public	$59,547	$67,040	$86,917	$28,000	47%
200	Youngstown StateYoungstown, OH · public	$59,149	$63,756	$71,919	$27,000	46%
201	Ole MissUniversity, MS · public	$58,112	Not adjusted	$83,228	$27,500	47%
202	Angelo StateSan Angelo, TX · public	$56,688	$58,407	Not reported	$20,241	36%
203	University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM · public	$54,248	$58,830	$84,508	$20,500	38%
204	UTRGVEdinburg, TX · public	$54,182	$55,825	$74,618	$11,000	20%
205	Jackson StateJackson, MS · public	$49,498	$56,925	$85,146	$31,000	63%
206	Norwich UniversityNorthfield, VT · private nonprofit	$44,884	Not adjusted	$71,713	$21,500	48%
207	UPR MayaguezMayaguez, PR · public	$41,324	Not adjusted	$68,727	$9,053	22%

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 164 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 43, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

4 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked.

Civil Engineering (Bachelor's) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's civil engineering bachelor's programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Virginia	5	$74,285	$25,000
2	California	20	$73,541	$18,820
3	Washington	5	$73,357	$23,616
4	Massachusetts	8	$72,379	$27,000
5	New York	10	$71,823	$22,409
6	Indiana	6	$71,685	$25,566
7	Michigan	6	$71,488	$28,078
8	New Jersey	5	$70,609	$26,291
9	Illinois	6	$70,535	$23,329
10	Connecticut	5	$70,495	$27,000
11	Pennsylvania	9	$70,391	$27,000
12	Ohio	10	$68,080	$25,576
13	Texas	12	$67,833	$20,542
14	Florida	9	$66,215	$23,000
15	Louisiana	5	$65,119	$27,000
16	Alabama	5	$64,122	$25,454

Programs in 36 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

USC, CA$8,125
UTRGV, TX$11,000
Cornell University, NY$12,750
Cal State Fullerton, CA$13,548
UC Berkeley, CA$14,392
University of Washington, WA$14,874
UVA, VA$14,903
Fresno State, CA$15,267
Lafayette College, PA$16,000
UC Davis, CA$16,101

Lowest debt for the pay

USC, CA10%
Cornell University, NY16%
UC Berkeley, CA18%
Cal State Fullerton, CA19%
UVA, VA20%
University of Washington, WA20%
UTRGV, TX20%
UC Davis, CA21%
Fresno State, CA21%
Cal Poly Pomona, CA22%

Only the 124 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to civil engineering, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Civil Engineers

$100,840

Median pay in the US. 367,840 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 22,700 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $68,240Top 10%: $163,220

Architectural and Engineering Managers

$171,270

Median pay in the US. 220,260 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 14,900 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.

Bottom 10%: $120,810Top 10%: $262,760

Environmental Engineers

$107,110

Median pay in the US. 38,340 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,300 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $69,990Top 10%: $162,220

Petroleum Engineers

$144,910

Median pay in the US. 18,060 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $81,440Top 10%: $253,200

Common questions

The median civil engineering bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $69,582 in their first year and $85,897 five years after.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024