Best Universities for Civil Engineering in North America

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Civil Engineering. A graph of 18.5M citations received by 535K academic papers made by 619 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

2. Stanford University

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

3. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Civil Engineering

#3 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Civil Engineering

#4 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Civil Engineering

#5 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

6. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Civil Engineering

#6 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

7. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Civil Engineering

#7 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

8. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Canada

#12 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

9. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Civil Engineering

#8 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

10. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Civil Engineering

#9 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

11. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#10 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

12. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#11 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

13. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Canada

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

14. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Civil Engineering

#12 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

15. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#13 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

16. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Civil Engineering

#14 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

17. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Civil Engineering

#15 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

18. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#16 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

19. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Civil Engineering

#17 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

20. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#18 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

21. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#19 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

22. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Civil Engineering

#20 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

23. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Civil Engineering

#21 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

24. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#22 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Civil Engineering

#23 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

26. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#24 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

27. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#25 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

28. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Civil Engineering

#26 in the United States

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

29. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Civil Engineering

#27 in the United States

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

30. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Civil Engineering

#28 in the United States

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

31. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#29 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

32. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Civil Engineering

#30 in the United States

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

33. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Civil Engineering

#31 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

34. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Civil Engineering

#32 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

35. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Canada

#69 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

36. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Canada

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

37. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#33 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

38. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Civil Engineering

#34 in the United States

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

39. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Canada

#87 in the World

Founded: 1957

40. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Civil Engineering

#35 in the United States

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

41. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Canada

#93 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

42. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Civil Engineering

#36 in the United States

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

43. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Civil Engineering

#37 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

44. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Civil Engineering

#38 in the United States

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

45. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Civil Engineering

#39 in the United States

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

46. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#40 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

47. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States | Texas

For Civil Engineering

#41 in the United States

#114 in the World

Enrollment: 355
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1941

48. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Canada

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

49. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Civil Engineering

#42 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

50. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#43 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

51. New York University

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#44 in the United States

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

52. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#45 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

53. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Civil Engineering

#46 in the United States

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

54. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Civil Engineering

#47 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

55. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Canada

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

56. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Civil Engineering

#48 in the United States

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

57. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Civil Engineering

#49 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

58. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Civil Engineering

#50 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

59. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Civil Engineering

#51 in the United States

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

60. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#52 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

61. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#53 in the United States

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

62. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Civil Engineering

#54 in the United States

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

63. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Civil Engineering

#55 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

64. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Civil Engineering

#56 in the United States

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

65. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Canada

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

66. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Civil Engineering

#57 in the United States

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

67. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Civil Engineering

#58 in the United States

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

68. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#59 in the United States

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

69. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Civil Engineering

#60 in the United States

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

70. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Canada

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

71. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Civil Engineering

#61 in the United States

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

72. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Civil Engineering

#62 in the United States

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

73. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Canada

#225 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

74. Ryerson University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Canada

#226 in the World

Enrollment: 38,950
Founded: 1948

75. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Canada

#232 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

76. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Civil Engineering

#63 in the United States

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

77. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#64 in the United States

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

78. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Civil Engineering

#65 in the United States

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

79. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#66 in the United States

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

80. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Civil Engineering

#67 in the United States

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

81. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Civil Engineering

#68 in the United States

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

82. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Civil Engineering

#69 in the United States

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

83. University of Nevada - Reno

United States | Nevada

For Civil Engineering

#70 in the United States

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $6,658
Enrollment: 21,778

84. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Civil Engineering

#71 in the United States

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

85. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#72 in the United States

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

86. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#73 in the United States

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

87. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Civil Engineering

#74 in the United States

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

88. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Civil Engineering

#75 in the United States

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

89. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Canada

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,109
Founded: 1942

90. Florida International University

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#76 in the United States

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

91. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Canada

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

92. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Civil Engineering

#77 in the United States

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

93. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#78 in the United States

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

94. Auburn University

United States | Alabama

For Civil Engineering

#79 in the United States

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 81%

95. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Civil Engineering

#80 in the United States

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

96. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#81 in the United States

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

97. Lehigh University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#82 in the United States

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,289

98. Missouri University of Science and Technology

United States | Missouri

For Civil Engineering

#83 in the United States

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1264
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

99. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Civil Engineering

#84 in the United States

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

100. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Civil Engineering

#85 in the United States

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering915

Aerospace Engineering860

Agricultural Engineering103

Applied/Engineering Physics270

Architectural Engineering265

Architecture239

Automation and Control engineering263

Automotive Engineering329

Aviation264

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering312

Biotechnology505

Chemical Engineering675

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking878

Construction Management213

Electrical Engineering917

Electronic Engineering533

Engineering Management386

Environmental Engineering398

Firefighting and Fire Science196

Geotechnical Engineering552

Human-Computer Interaction512

Industrial Engineering189

Landscape Architecture158

Marine Engineering215

Materials Science1198

Mechanical Engineering1105

Metallurgical Engineering910

Mining Engineering174

Nanotechnology643

Nuclear Engineering196

Operations Research383

Optical Engineering1060

Petroleum Engineering256

Polymer science and Plastics engineering210

Product and Industrial Design222

Reliability and Quality Engineering321

Remote Sensing399

Renewable Energy Engineering273

Robotics269

Structural Engineering696

Systems Engineering605

Technical Drawing194

Telecommunications859

Transportation Engineering319