If you enjoyed playing with building blocks as a kid, you might be a natural-born civil engineer with an eye for construction design. To move from making buildings with Legos to concrete, you’ll need one of the best civil engineering bachelor’s degrees. Civil engineering bachelor’s degrees teach students how to apply knowledge in math and sciences to building designs and materials.
To help you find your dream degree, we’ve compiled below a list of the top 10 civil engineering programs in the country. Then, we’ll go over the types of civil engineering bachelor’s degree jobs you can expect to obtain once you have your degree in hand.
Where Can I Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering?
You can get a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering at schools like Arizona State University, Drexel University, Oregon State University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Penn State University. Other great options include Johns Hopkins University, North Carolina State University, Purdue University, Syracuse University, and the University of North Dakota.
What Schools Offer the Best Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree?
- Arizona State University
- Drexel University
- Oregon State University
- Penn State University
- University of Texas at San Antonio
What Are the Admission Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering?
The admission requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering require prospective students to have completed high school or have their GED and to pay an application fee. Some schools might require prospective students to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Beyond that, some schools have a minimum GPA of around 3.0 required of their applicants. Even if a school doesn’t have a set minimum, the prospective students that they typically accept can have a GPA much higher than 3.0, such as with Johns Hopkins University.
Schools may also require letters of recommendation from counselors or teachers, or require students to answer short essay prompts asking about a student’s interest in a particular school.
Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Admission Requirements
- Complete high school or GED
- Academic transcripts
- Application fee between $50 and $100
- SAT or ACT scores
- Letters of recommendation
How to Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering
To get a civil engineering bachelor’s degree, you must complete the graduation requirements of the respective school. Though the specifics vary between schools, you’ll have to sustain a minimum GPA score as you complete your 120 credit hours of study.
Some schools will also require their seniors to complete either a capstone project or take part in an internship or co-op work experience. This ensures that students have a professional portfolio upon graduation that will help them get their first job.
How Many Credits Do You Need for a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering?
Typically, 120 credits are required for a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. This means taking 15 credit hours over eight semesters to finish in four years, which is a full-time course load.
Some schools operate on quarter semesters, with students studying three out of the four quarters in a year. In those instances, students will still study for four years, but will instead take 180 credits. That involves 12 quarter-semesters, with 15 credit hours of studying for each.
Civil Engineering Degree Requirements
- Complete 120 credit hours
- Maintain a minimum GPA, typically 3.0
- Occasionally complete a senior capstone project or internship
- Take lower-level classes in biology, chemistry, calculus, and physics
- Take upper-level classes in fluid mechanics, environmental engineering, and structural analysis
Best Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Programs and Schools: Overview
| School | Program | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Civil Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| Drexel University | Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Johns Hopkins University | Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| North Carolina State University | Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
| Oregon State University | Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| Penn State University | Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Purdue University | Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Civil Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| Syracuse University | Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering | Middle States Commission on the Higher Education |
| University of North Dakota | Civil Engineering Degree | Higher Learning Commission |
| University of Texas at San Antonio | Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
Best Schools for Civil Engineering: Top Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Programs
With so many programs available at universities across the country, it can be difficult to find the best civil engineering bachelor’s degrees. Below, we’ll discuss our list of the top 10 schools in the country with civil engineering programs.
What Is a Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree?
A civil engineering bachelor’s degree is a four-year program that teaches students the math, science, and design underlying natural and constructed settings. Students first learn the foundations of physics, chemistry, calculus, and biology to then build skill sets in various forms of engineering, including geotechnical, transportation, environmental, structural, and water resources.
After 120 to 180 credits within this degree, students take licensing exams to become certified civil engineers and jump right into the workforce in either private or public sectors. They often work in either federal government organizations, small consulting firms, or large corporations.
How Important Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering?
A Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering is very important as it teaches the essential knowledge necessary to land a job within a civil engineering department. Most bachelor’s degrees also require students to specialize in a specific civil engineering department, ensuring they have the technical knowledge and skills to design their own infrastructure in the real world.
What Types of Bachelor’s Degree Can You Get in Civil Engineering?
The main type of bachelor’s degree you can get in civil engineering is a Bachelor of Science. However, if you know that you want a specific job in the civil engineering industry, you might be able to find a school that specializes in that civil engineering department. Possible subjects degrees cover include architecture, construction, environment, drafting, or surveying.
Is It Better to Get a Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree or a Construction Engineering Bachelor’s Degree?
It is better to get a civil engineering degree if you want to focus on the science and math behind designing and drafting construction projects. You’ll have extensive knowledge in physics, calculus, biology, and chemistry to know how to design infrastructure literally from the ground up.
A Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Engineering, by contrast, is more focused on implementing the designs made by civil engineers and they work on-site either making or managing the construction of projects. Often, they are in charge of making stability structures such as scaffolding commonly used in construction.
What Is the Difference Between a Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree and a Civil Engineering Certificate?
The difference between a civil engineering bachelor’s degree and a civil engineering certificate is that the bachelor’s degree is the baseline education needed to work within the field. A certificate, however, simply shows that someone has furthered their education to specialize in a specific civil engineering topic or area.
You can’t become a civil engineer with a certificate alone, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement. Once students graduate with a civil engineering bachelor’s degree, they take licensing exams to become certified civil engineers. One cannot take a certification without prior baccalaureate education.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering?
The average tuition cost per year for a bachelor’s degree is $19,081, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This price tag changes depending on the type of university you choose.
The cheapest option is to study at a public, in-state college of engineering, with $9,425 being the base tuition. A private, for-profit college costs $19,085 per year, while a private non-profit college costs $36,689 in annual tuition.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree?
It usually takes four years to get a civil engineering bachelor’s degree. Students typically take 120 credits total, split across eight semesters, with 12 to 15 credits being completed each semester.
For schools that operate on quarter semesters, as opposed to just two typical fall and spring semesters, students complete 180 credits spread across 12 quarter semesters. They study three out of the four quarters in a year, taking 15 credits per quarter semester, taking four years total.
How Hard Is It to Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering?
It is not hard to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering so long as you are proficient in math and science. The introductory classes within the major involve taking complicated physics, chemistry, biology, and calculus classes, so if your skills are not STEM-related, this might not be the degree for you.
However, if you are skilled in STEM classes, civil engineering is a fairly easy degree to get. It will take four years to complete and you’ll likely have the opportunity to specialize in a specific type of civil engineering. To culminate your studies, you may need to design a project that would mimic the kinds you hope to produce in the real world.
Why Should You Get a Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree?
You should get a civil engineering bachelor’s degree if you hope to work within the field, as a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement to become a professional engineer. After completing a baccalaureate education, you must take a licensing exam to become a certified civil engineer.
Upon graduation, you’d be able to work within the civil engineering field, a sector that is expected to grow by eight percent between 2020 and 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statiatics. Careers that await you include geotechnical engineer, structural engineer, transportation engineer, water resources engineer, or environmental engineer.
What Courses Do You Need to Take in a Bachelor’s Degree Program in Civil Engineering?
The courses you need to take during a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering cover foundational math and science classes in calculus, physics, biology, and chemistry classes in the first semesters. Further into the degree, you’ll begin to take courses in more complex construction-related classes. These advanced, civil engineering-focused courses are listed in detail below.
Introduction to Civil Engineering
Introduction to Civil Engineering teaches foundational knowledge of engineering design, construction methods, and the makeup of construction materials. In addition, you’ll gain the critical-thinking skills needed to apply this knowledge, and learn the ethics and decision-making behind designing.
Fluid Mechanics
This is a physics class that teaches how fluids act and how different forces affect how they behave. You’ll learn how fluids flow through open channels and porous materials and move around constructed pipes to make the most effective designs.
Steel Design
The literal backbone of most construction projects, you’ll learn the physics behind this durable, strong, and versatile building material. Professors will go over the types of steel mediums, including tension cords, columns, welded connections, and beams.
Environmental Engineering
This class is essential to learning how to create designs that minimize the negative environmental impact of construction projects. Those studying a civil engineering major learn how to monitor and protect different ecosystems and natural resources, as well as learn how to fix environmental problems when they arise.
Structural Analysis
This is a form of solid mechanics that looks at how different building materials are expected to behave when constructed. Students will analyze how various materials affect one another, the effect of weight on their strength and their joints, as well as how to create structures to move loads.
Continuing Education Paths for Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Graduates
Students can continue their educational path beyond their civil engineering bachelor’s degree through additional certifications or pursuing a graduate degree such as a master’s degree. If your undergraduate program didn’t offer concentrations within the field, you can go to other civil engineering schools that offer graduate degrees in specific types of construction.
The advantage of getting a graduate degree is that you’re can focus your studies on a type of engineering you’re passionate about. It also makes you a more competitive job applicant with higher earning potential.
To gain additional certifications to practice a particular subset of civil engineering, you can take courses through external organizations or through your prior undergraduate institution. For example, Oregon State University allows students to also become licensed as surveyors while completing their undergraduate program if they take a few additional college classes.
Related Civil Engineering Degrees
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What to Look For in the Best Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Programs
The things to look for in the best civil engineering bachelor’s degree programs are the school’s accreditation, the courses, the location, costs, and employment outcomes. Below, we’ll discuss why these are important aspects to consider when searching for your dream school.
Accreditation
Accreditation is confirmation from an independent organization that verifies if a program meets certain educational standards. You need to make sure that the college of engineering you attend is accredited both so that you can get a good education and get a job upon graduation.
Curriculum
The curriculum of a prospective engineering program should cover basic courses in physics, biology, chemistry, and calculus. It should also delve further into complicated classes, such as the mechanics of different building materials, to ensure you’d be able to apply that math and science knowledge in the civil engineering field.
Concentrations
Consider if prospective schools offer degree concentrations to specialize in different branches of engineering such as transportation, construction, water resource, structural, environmental, or geotechnical. By choosing a specialization, you’d be able to learn whether or not you’d want to pursue that discipline post-graduation.
Employment Outcomes
To ensure your degree has a good return on investment, you need to look into the employment outcomes of a school’s graduates. Most universities boast about these statistics on their websites. Good universities will also offer career services like counseling and resume prep to prepare graduates for the workforce.
Cost
The cost of an institution is an important consideration when choosing between prospective schools. The prices can vary astronomically between institutions, especially if some schools on your list are public and others are private. If there are schools that are financially out-of-reach, you can either file a FAFSA for financial aid or look into a school’s scholarship opportunities.
What Is the Most Affordable Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree?
The most affordable civil engineering bachelor’s degree from the schools on our list is offered through North Carolina State University. The school’s tuition comes in at just $272 per credit for in-state students and $1,178 per credit for out-of-state students. This totals about $10,020 per year for in-state students and $37,200 per year for out-of-state students.
That makes the actual tuition nearly identical to that of Oregon State University, which is $362 per credit for in-state engineering students and $1,043 for out-of-state engineering students. This comes out to about $10,860 per year for in-state students and $31,290 per year for out-of-state students.
Salary and Job Outlook for Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Graduates
Civil engineering graduates have high earning potential and diverse career options. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), general civil engineers earn an annual salary of $88,050, and the field is projected to grow eight percent between 2020 and 2030. After graduating and passing the necessary certification exams to become licensed, in-demand jobs in civil engineering are within reach.
How Hard Is It to Get a Job With a Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree?
It’s not hard to get a job with a civil engineering bachelor’s degree once you pass your licensing exam to become a certified engineer, a requirement for every state in the US. With a license in hand, you’ll be able to land a variety of jobs within civil engineering, as the need for those in construction is constant, making engineers high-demand.
With a bachelor’s degree alone, you’d be able to get jobs in the private or public sector, working in governmental agencies, large corporations, or even small consulting firms. You can even earn a higher salary by advancing to managerial positions as you gain more hands-on experience.
What’s the Average Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Salary?
The average salary of a civil engineer is $88,050, according to BLS. The amount of money a civil engineer can earn also varies depending on the engineering specialty, job location, educational level, and years of experience. As you gain more professional experience or pursue higher degrees, you’d likely be able to earn much higher than average.
What Types of Jobs Can You Get With a Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree?
The type of jobs you can get with a civil engineering bachelor’s degree are in the fields of construction, environmental engineering, structural, highway, water quality, and transportation engineering. There’s so much you can do with a civil engineering degree, and below we’ll discuss some of the highest-paying jobs within the field.
Civil Engineering Degree Jobs
- Architectural and Engineering Manager
- Construction Manager
- Environmental Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Transportation Engineer
Potential Careers With a Civil Engineering Degree
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How Much Money Can You Make With a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering?
You can earn between $80,000 and $100,000 in careers that require a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. This annual salary can go up to $150,000 as experience is gained and professionals move into management positions in architecture or construction. Engineers can earn even more if they pursue further education through certification programs or by earning a graduate degree.
Highest-Paying Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Jobs and Salaries: Overview
| Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $152,350 |
| Construction manager | $98,890 |
| Environmental Engineer | $96,820 |
| Civil Engineer | $88,050 |
| Transportation Engineer | $88,050 |
Best Jobs for Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Grads
The best civil engineering bachelor’s degree jobs include being an architectural and engineering manager, construction manager, environmental engineer, civil engineer, and transportation engineer. Below, we’ll discuss these jobs further as well as their annual salary potential.
Best Jobs According to Your Major
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Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering Worth It?
Yes, a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering is worth it. After completing their four-year degree and taking their licensing tests, graduates can enter the workforce and immediately make annual wages of nearly six figures. Job openings related to civil engineering are projected to grow eight percent between 2020 and 2030 meaning that a degree is a good investment.
A Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering opens the door for further education, such as completing a master’s or doctoral degree in a civil engineering specialization, which can increase your annual salary further. Even without pursuing further education, you can make a good living in a successful career in this in-demand field, literally building the world of tomorrow.
Additional Reading About Civil Engineering
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Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree FAQ
Yes, civil engineers can work as environmental engineers. Environmental engineering is a subset of civil engineering, so those studying the latter have experience learning about the former.
In fact, many schools with civil engineering academic programs offer concentrations in environmental engineering. They require the same sort of technical skills and foundational knowledge, so even if you don’t take environmental engineering as a concentration, you can still pursue it as a career.
Civil Engineers use their extensive knowledge in math and science to draft plans used for infrastructure projects. They know to a molecular level the materials used in building and calculate how those materials will function in artificial structures.
Civil engineering is nearly always a BS degree. Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees involve taking numerous humanities and liberal arts classes, such as English and history, which are not particularly relevant to the field of civil engineering. Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in civil engineering, by contrast, jump right into math and science classes with introductory courses in chemistry, physics, biology, and calculus.
Yes, you are an engineer with a bachelor’s degree. The degree involves extensive training in a wide range of math and science classes combined with teaching students the technical skills needed for various engineering jobs. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree take certification tests to become licensed civil engineers, and once they are, they can enter the workforce and start earning nearly six figures.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
