100 Best Civil Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Civil Engineering. A graph of 16.2M citations received by 461K academic papers made by 559 universities in the United States 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

California | Berkeley

For Civil Engineering

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Civil Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Civil Engineering

#3 in North America

#6 in the World

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

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Civil Engineering

#4 in North America

#7 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Civil Engineering

#5 in North America

#8 in the World

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

6. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Civil Engineering

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

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

7. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Civil Engineering

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

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

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Civil Engineering

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

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

9. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Civil Engineering

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

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

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Civil Engineering

#11 in North America

#19 in the World

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

11. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Civil Engineering

#12 in North America

#20 in the World

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

12. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Civil Engineering

#14 in North America

#25 in the World

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

13. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Civil Engineering

#15 in North America

#28 in the World

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

14. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Civil Engineering

#16 in North America

#30 in the World

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

15. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Civil Engineering

#17 in North America

#32 in the World

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

16. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Civil Engineering

#18 in North America

#33 in the World

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

17. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Civil Engineering

#19 in North America

#35 in the World

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

18. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Civil Engineering

#20 in North America

#36 in the World

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

19. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Civil Engineering

#21 in North America

#39 in the World

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

20. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Civil Engineering

#22 in North America

#40 in the World

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

21. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Civil Engineering

#23 in North America

#42 in the World

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

22. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Civil Engineering

#24 in North America

#45 in the World

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

23. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Civil Engineering

#25 in North America

#46 in the World

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

24. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Civil Engineering

#26 in North America

#48 in the World

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

25. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Civil Engineering

#27 in North America

#52 in the World

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

26. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Civil Engineering

#28 in North America

#54 in the World

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

27. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Civil Engineering

#29 in North America

#58 in the World

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

28. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Civil Engineering

#30 in North America

#60 in the World

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

29. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Civil Engineering

#31 in North America

#64 in the World

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

30. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Civil Engineering

#32 in North America

#65 in the World

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

31. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Civil Engineering

#33 in North America

#67 in the World

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

32. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Civil Engineering

#34 in North America

#68 in the World

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

33. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Civil Engineering

#37 in North America

#80 in the World

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

34. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Civil Engineering

#38 in North America

#81 in the World

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

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Civil Engineering

#40 in North America

#88 in the World

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

36. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Civil Engineering

#42 in North America

#99 in the World

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

37. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Civil Engineering

#43 in North America

#102 in the World

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

38. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Civil Engineering

#44 in North America

#104 in the World

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

39. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Civil Engineering

#45 in North America

#106 in the World

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

40. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Civil Engineering

#46 in North America

#107 in the World

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

41. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Civil Engineering

#47 in North America

#114 in the World

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

42. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Civil Engineering

#49 in North America

#119 in the World

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

43. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Civil Engineering

#50 in North America

#120 in the World

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

44. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Civil Engineering

#51 in North America

#121 in the World

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

45. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Civil Engineering

#52 in North America

#128 in the World

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

46. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Civil Engineering

#53 in North America

#129 in the World

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

47. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Civil Engineering

#54 in North America

#132 in the World

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

48. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Civil Engineering

#56 in North America

#135 in the World

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

49. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Civil Engineering

#57 in North America

#146 in the World

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

50. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Civil Engineering

#58 in North America

#151 in the World

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

51. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Civil Engineering

#59 in North America

#152 in the World

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

52. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Civil Engineering

#60 in North America

#153 in the World

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

53. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Civil Engineering

#61 in North America

#159 in the World

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

54. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Civil Engineering

#62 in North America

#160 in the World

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

55. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Civil Engineering

#63 in North America

#171 in the World

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

56. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Civil Engineering

#64 in North America

#172 in the World

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

57. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Civil Engineering

#66 in North America

#189 in the World

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

58. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Civil Engineering

#67 in North America

#195 in the World

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

59. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Civil Engineering

#68 in North America

#197 in the World

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

60. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Civil Engineering

#69 in North America

#201 in the World

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

61. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Civil Engineering

#71 in North America

#219 in the World

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

62. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Civil Engineering

#72 in North America

#224 in the World

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

63. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Civil Engineering

#76 in North America

#235 in the World

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

64. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Civil Engineering

#77 in North America

#238 in the World

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

65. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Civil Engineering

#78 in North America

#240 in the World

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

66. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Civil Engineering

#79 in North America

#241 in the World

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

67. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Civil Engineering

#80 in North America

#244 in the World

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

68. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Civil Engineering

#81 in North America

#248 in the World

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

69. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Civil Engineering

#82 in North America

#251 in the World

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

70. University of Nevada - Reno

Nevada | Reno

For Civil Engineering

#83 in North America

#256 in the World

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

71. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Civil Engineering

#84 in North America

#258 in the World

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

72. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Civil Engineering

#85 in North America

#260 in the World

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

73. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Civil Engineering

#86 in North America

#263 in the World

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

74. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Civil Engineering

#87 in North America

#269 in the World

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

75. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Civil Engineering

#88 in North America

#271 in the World

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

76. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Civil Engineering

#90 in North America

#273 in the World

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

77. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Civil Engineering

#92 in North America

#279 in the World

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

78. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Civil Engineering

#93 in North America

#281 in the World

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

79. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Civil Engineering

#94 in North America

#294 in the World

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

80. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Civil Engineering

#95 in North America

#295 in the World

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

81. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Civil Engineering

#96 in North America

#298 in the World

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

82. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Civil Engineering

#97 in North America

#301 in the World

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

83. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Civil Engineering

#98 in North America

#303 in the World

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

84. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Civil Engineering

#99 in North America

#304 in the World

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

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Civil Engineering

#100 in North America

#313 in the World

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

86. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Civil Engineering

#101 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

87. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Civil Engineering

#102 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

88. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Civil Engineering

#103 in North America

#323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

89. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Civil Engineering

#107 in North America

#331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

90. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Civil Engineering

#108 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

91. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Civil Engineering

#110 in North America

#353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

92. Portland State University

Oregon | Portland

For Civil Engineering

#111 in North America

#364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $8,827
Enrollment: 20,519

93. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Civil Engineering

#112 in North America

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

94. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Civil Engineering

#113 in North America

#376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

95. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Civil Engineering

#114 in North America

#384 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 97%

96. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Civil Engineering

#115 in North America

#385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 79%

97. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Civil Engineering

#116 in North America

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,102
Enrollment: 6,640

98. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Civil Engineering

#117 in North America

#400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

99. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Civil Engineering

#118 in North America

#401 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Civil Engineering

#119 in North America

#403 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

The best cities to study Civil Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Berkeley, Stanford, Cambridge, and Ann Arbor.