2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Civil Engineering graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 334 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Grad Degree evaluated schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Civil Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Villanova University to be the best-value Civil Engineering school in the United States. Located in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,776 in tuition and fees. The median Civil Engineering program debt is $27,000. Median earnings reach $100,423 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Villanova University has an acceptance rate of 27%. See the full Villanova University profile
You'll get strong value at Lawrence Technological University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Southfield, MI, Lawrence Technological University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,760. The median Civil Engineering program debt is $30,197. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,151 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 56% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Lawrence Technological University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Loyola Marymount University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,867. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Civil Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,349. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Loyola Marymount University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan Technological University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Michigan Technological University is a public school based in Houghton, MI. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Michigan Technological University alumni report median earnings of $78,198 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Michigan Technological University report
You'll get strong value at Missouri University Of Science And Technology, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Typical Civil Engineering student debt is $27,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $82,957. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri University Of Science And Technology has an acceptance rate of 72%. Get the full Missouri University Of Science And Technology report
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Civil Engineering schools. Set in Worcester, MA, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $60,765. Worcester Polytechnic Institute Civil Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Worcester Polytechnic Institute alumni report median earnings of $103,470 a decade after entry. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%. More on Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Iowa State University offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete their Civil Engineering program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $63,386. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants. Get the full Iowa State University report
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public school based in Fort Collins, CO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. The median Civil Engineering program debt is $25,480. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $60,543. That is a strong return on a $25,480 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%. Read the full report on Colorado State University Fort Collins
University Of Florida came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. The median Civil Engineering program debt is $20,121. Median earnings reach $71,588 ten years out. Set against $20,121 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida has an acceptance rate of 24%. More on University Of Florida
George Washington University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Washington, DC, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete their Civil Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $90,873. Set against $22,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted. Get the full George Washington University report
New Jersey Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Newark, NJ, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. New Jersey Institute Of Technology Civil Engineering students take on a median of $24,085 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $84,276. Set against $24,085 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants. More on New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Clarkson University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Potsdam, NY. Students from in state pay about $59,398 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $89,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clarkson University has an acceptance rate of 77%. See the full Clarkson University profile
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #13 among the best-value Civil Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Typical Civil Engineering student debt is $27,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $62,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Columbia
Stevens Institute Of Technology placed #14 among the best-value Civil Engineering schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hoboken, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,462. The median Civil Engineering program debt is $27,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $108,772. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. About 48% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Stevens Institute Of Technology
University Of Central Florida placed #15 among the best-value Civil Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Orlando, FL, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. The median Civil Engineering program debt is $21,374. Median earnings reach $58,308 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Florida has an acceptance rate of 40%. See the full University Of Central Florida profile
Stanford University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete their Civil Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $124,080. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%. Read more about Stanford University
University At Buffalo came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Located in Buffalo, NY, University At Buffalo is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,913 to complete their Civil Engineering program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $70,814. Set against $22,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants. Get the full University At Buffalo report
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Typical Civil Engineering student debt is $23,258. Graduates go on to earn a median of $102,491 ten years after entry. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 4% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of Louisville placed #19 among the best-value Civil Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Louisville, KY. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. The median Civil Engineering program debt is $24,503. Median earnings reach $53,899 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Louisville has an acceptance rate of 79%. Read the full report on University Of Louisville
Central State University offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. See the full Central State University profile
Caribbean University Ponce landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Caribbean University Ponce
Community College Of Rhode Island came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full Community College Of Rhode Island profile
El Paso Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Civil Engineering schools. Read the full report on El Paso Community College
North Carolina A And T State University landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. More on North Carolina A And T State University
Tennessee State University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Get the full Tennessee State University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Civil Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Syracuse University landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Syracuse University
Northern Arizona University offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Northern Arizona University profile
Jamestown College landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Jamestown College
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. More on Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Kansas City
California Baptist University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Civil Engineering schools. See the full California Baptist University profile
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Carroll College
Carroll College came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. More on Carroll College
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Minnesota Duluth
Florida Atlantic University came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Florida Atlantic University report
Stony Brook University placed #37 among the best-value Civil Engineering schools in the United States. See the full Stony Brook University profile
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #38 among the best-value Civil Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Texas A And M University Kingsville landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Texas A And M University Kingsville
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. More on Arkansas State University Main Campus
Mercer University placed #41 among the best-value Civil Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Mercer University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. More on The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
San Jose State University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Read more about San Jose State University
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #44 among the best-value Civil Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full The University Of Texas Pan American report
Norwich University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Civil Engineering schools. See the full Norwich University profile
Universidad Del Turabo came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. More on Universidad Del Turabo
Murray State University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Murray State University report
The College Of New Jersey came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read more about The College Of New Jersey
Washington State University placed #49 among the best-value Civil Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Washington State University
University Of The District Of Columbia came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of The District Of Columbia report
Related Civil Engineering Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Civil Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Civil Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Civil Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Civil Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Civil Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 334 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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