100 Best Civil Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 11.9M citations received by 411K academic papers made by 528 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: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Civil Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Civil Engineering

#3 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Civil Engineering

#4 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

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: 74%

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: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

7. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Civil Engineering

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Civil Engineering

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

9. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Civil Engineering

#10 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Civil Engineering

#11 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

11. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Civil Engineering

#12 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

12. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Civil Engineering

#13 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

13. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Civil Engineering

#15 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

14. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Civil Engineering

#16 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

15. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Civil Engineering

#17 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

16. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Civil Engineering

#18 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

17. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Civil Engineering

#19 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

18. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Civil Engineering

#20 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

19. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Civil Engineering

#21 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

20. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Civil Engineering

#22 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

21. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Civil Engineering

#23 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

22. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Civil Engineering

#24 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

23. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Civil Engineering

#25 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

24. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Civil Engineering

#26 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

25. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Civil Engineering

#27 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

26. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Civil Engineering

#28 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Civil Engineering

#29 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

28. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Civil Engineering

#30 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

29. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Civil Engineering

#32 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

30. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Civil Engineering

#34 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

31. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Civil Engineering

#35 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

32. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Civil Engineering

#36 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

33. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Civil Engineering

#37 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

34. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Civil Engineering

#39 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

35. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Civil Engineering

#40 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Civil Engineering

#41 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

37. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Civil Engineering

#42 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

38. 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: $36,991

39. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Civil Engineering

#46 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

40. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Civil Engineering

#47 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

41. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Civil Engineering

#48 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

42. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Civil Engineering

#49 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

43. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Civil Engineering

#50 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

44. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Civil Engineering

#52 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

45. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Civil Engineering

#53 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

46. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Civil Engineering

#54 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

47. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Civil Engineering

#55 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

48. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Civil Engineering

#56 in North America

#136 in the World

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

49. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Civil Engineering

#57 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

50. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Civil Engineering

#58 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

51. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Civil Engineering

#59 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

52. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Civil Engineering

#60 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

53. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Civil Engineering

#61 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

54. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Civil Engineering

#62 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

55. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Civil Engineering

#63 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

56. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Civil Engineering

#64 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

57. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Civil Engineering

#66 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

58. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Civil Engineering

#67 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

59. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Civil Engineering

#68 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

60. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Civil Engineering

#69 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

61. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Civil Engineering

#70 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

62. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Civil Engineering

#73 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

63. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Civil Engineering

#74 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

64. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Civil Engineering

#75 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

65. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Civil Engineering

#76 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

66. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Civil Engineering

#78 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

67. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Civil Engineering

#79 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

68. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Civil Engineering

#80 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

69. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Civil Engineering

#81 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

70. University of Nevada - Reno

Nevada | Reno

For Civil Engineering

#82 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $7,829
Enrollment: 20,945

71. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Civil Engineering

#83 in North America

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

72. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Civil Engineering

#84 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

73. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Civil Engineering

#85 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

74. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Civil Engineering

#86 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

75. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Civil Engineering

#87 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

76. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Civil Engineering

#88 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

77. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Civil Engineering

#89 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

78. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Civil Engineering

#90 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

79. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Civil Engineering

#92 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

80. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Civil Engineering

#93 in North America

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $30,453

81. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Civil Engineering

#94 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

82. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Civil Engineering

#96 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

83. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Civil Engineering

#97 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

84. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Civil Engineering

#98 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1272
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

85. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Civil Engineering

#100 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

86. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Civil Engineering

#102 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

87. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Civil Engineering

#103 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

88. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Civil Engineering

#104 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

89. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Civil Engineering

#105 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

90. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Civil Engineering

#106 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

91. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Civil Engineering

#107 in North America

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

92. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Civil Engineering

#109 in North America

#331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

93. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Civil Engineering

#111 in North America

#349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

94. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Civil Engineering

#112 in North America

#363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

95. Portland State University

Oregon | Portland

For Civil Engineering

#114 in North America

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,750
Enrollment: 21,609

96. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Civil Engineering

#115 in North America

#376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

97. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Civil Engineering

#116 in North America

#377 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1409
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 98%

98. Marymount University

Virginia | Arlington

For Civil Engineering

#117 in North America

#386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $24,664
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $26,190

99. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Civil Engineering

#118 in North America

#387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

100. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Civil Engineering

#119 in North America

#388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

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.