Best Universities for Civil Engineering in North America

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 19.6M citations received by 544K academic papers made by 627 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: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

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: $25,078

3. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Civil Engineering

#3 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Civil Engineering

#4 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Civil Engineering

#5 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

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: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

7. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Civil Engineering

#7 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

8. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Canada

#12 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

9. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Civil Engineering

#8 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

10. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Civil Engineering

#9 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

11. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#10 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

12. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#11 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

13. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Canada

#23 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

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

15. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#13 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

16. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Civil Engineering

#14 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

17. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Civil Engineering

#15 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

18. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#16 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

19. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Civil Engineering

#17 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

20. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#18 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

21. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Civil Engineering

#19 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

22. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#20 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

23. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Civil Engineering

#21 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

24. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#22 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Civil Engineering

#23 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

26. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#24 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

27. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#25 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

28. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Civil Engineering

#26 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

29. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Civil Engineering

#27 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

30. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Civil Engineering

#28 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

31. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#29 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

32. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Civil Engineering

#30 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

33. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Canada

#68 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

34. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Canada

#69 in the World

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

35. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Civil Engineering

#31 in the United States

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

36. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Civil Engineering

#32 in the United States

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

37. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#33 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

38. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Civil Engineering

#34 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

39. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Canada

#89 in the World

Founded: 1957

40. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Civil Engineering

#35 in the United States

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

41. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Canada

#92 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

42. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Civil Engineering

#36 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
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

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

44. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Civil Engineering

#38 in the United States

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

45. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#39 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

46. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Civil Engineering

#40 in the United States

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

47. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Canada

#116 in the World

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

48. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States | Texas

For Civil Engineering

#41 in the United States

#119 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

49. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#42 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

50. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Civil Engineering

#43 in the United States

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

51. New York University

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#44 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

52. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#45 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

53. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Civil Engineering

#46 in the United States

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

54. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Civil Engineering

#47 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

55. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Canada

#139 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

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

57. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Civil Engineering

#49 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

58. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Civil Engineering

#50 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

59. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Civil Engineering

#51 in the United States

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

60. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#52 in the United States

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

61. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#53 in the United States

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

62. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Civil Engineering

#54 in the United States

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

63. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Civil Engineering

#55 in the United States

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

64. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Civil Engineering

#56 in the United States

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

65. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Canada

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 35,612
Founded: 1841

66. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Civil Engineering

#57 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

67. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Civil Engineering

#58 in the United States

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

68. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#59 in the United States

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

69. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Civil Engineering

#60 in the United States

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

70. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Canada

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

71. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Civil Engineering

#61 in the United States

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

72. Ryerson University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Canada

#225 in the World

Enrollment: 38,950
Founded: 1948

73. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Canada

#226 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

74. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Civil Engineering

#62 in the United States

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

75. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Canada

#230 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

76. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#63 in the United States

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

77. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Civil Engineering

#64 in the United States

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

78. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Civil Engineering

#65 in the United States

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

79. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Civil Engineering

#66 in the United States

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

80. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Civil Engineering

#67 in the United States

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

81. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Civil Engineering

#68 in the United States

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

82. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Civil Engineering

#69 in the United States

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

83. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Civil Engineering

#70 in the United States

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

84. University of Nevada - Reno

United States | Nevada

For Civil Engineering

#71 in the United States

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

85. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#72 in the United States

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

86. Florida International University

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#73 in the United States

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

87. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#74 in the United States

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

88. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Canada

#274 in the World

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

89. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Canada

#277 in the World

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

90. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Civil Engineering

#75 in the United States

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

91. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Civil Engineering

#76 in the United States

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

92. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Civil Engineering

#77 in the United States

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

93. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Civil Engineering

#78 in the United States

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

94. Auburn University

United States | Alabama

For Civil Engineering

#79 in the United States

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

95. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Civil Engineering

#80 in the United States

#299 in the World

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

96. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Civil Engineering

#81 in the United States

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

97. Lehigh University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Civil Engineering

#82 in the United States

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

98. Missouri University of Science and Technology

United States | Missouri

For Civil Engineering

#83 in the United States

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

99. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Civil Engineering

#84 in the United States

#305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

100. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Civil Engineering

#85 in the United States

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering918

Aerospace Engineering864

Agricultural Engineering99

Applied/Engineering Physics276

Architectural Engineering270

Architecture241

Automation and Control engineering267

Automotive Engineering334

Aviation255

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering317

Biotechnology510

Chemical Engineering678

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking887

Construction Management216

Electrical Engineering923

Electronic Engineering537

Engineering Management395

Environmental Engineering401

Firefighting and Fire Science199

Geotechnical Engineering556

Human-Computer Interaction525

Industrial Engineering185

Landscape Architecture161

Marine Engineering218

Materials Science1207

Mechanical Engineering1111

Metallurgical Engineering921

Mining Engineering176

Nanotechnology652

Nuclear Engineering200

Operations Research383

Optical Engineering1067

Petroleum Engineering258

Polymer science and Plastics engineering200

Product and Industrial Design223

Reliability and Quality Engineering325

Remote Sensing404

Renewable Energy Engineering281

Robotics270

Structural Engineering702

Systems Engineering613

Technical Drawing198

Telecommunications868

Transportation Engineering321