Best Civil Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 16 colleges offering Civil Engineering programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 2,385 recent graduates. Graduates earn $62,579 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $60,160.

Schools in PA

$62,579

PA Avg. Earnings

$60,160

National Avg.

252

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Civil Engineering in Pennsylvania

Public Schools (9)

$61,703

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (7)

$63,704

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $2,001 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Civil Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania, Ranked by Earnings

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$60,094

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 11.4%

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA · Private

$65,610

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $66,231

Graduates: 23

Acceptance: 32.0%

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$67,660

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $67,220

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 29.3%

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$62,203

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $63,149

Graduates: 83

Acceptance: 77.5%

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$56,641

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,557

Graduates: 85

Acceptance: 82.9%

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley

Center Valley, PA · Public

$62,162

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $61,387

Graduates: 308

Acceptance: 94.2%

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

Altoona, PA · Public

$62,162

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $61,387

Graduates: 308

Acceptance: 97.3%

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg

Middletown, PA · Public

$62,162

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $61,387

Graduates: 308

Acceptance: 96.4%

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine

Media, PA · Public

$62,162

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $61,387

Graduates: 308

Acceptance: 95.3%

#10

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

$62,162

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $61,387

Graduates: 308

Acceptance: 54.2%

#11

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

$65,486

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $64,237

Graduates: 48

Acceptance: 25.1%

#12

Widener University

Chester, PA · Private

$59,640

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $60,130

Graduates: 43

Acceptance: 84.0%

#13

University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

Johnstown, PA · Public

$62,856

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $62,469

Graduates: 100

Acceptance: 95.9%

#14

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA · Public

$62,856

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $62,469

Graduates: 100

Acceptance: 49.7%

#15

Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private

$65,238

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $67,033

Graduates: 24

Acceptance: 31.5%

#16

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

University Park, PA · Public

$62,162

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $61,387

Graduates: 308

Acceptance: 80.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Civil Engineering in Pennsylvania?

Carnegie Mellon University ranks #1 for Civil Engineering in Pennsylvania with median graduate earnings of $60,094 within two years of graduation. There are 16 schools offering Civil Engineering programs in the state.

How much do Civil Engineering graduates earn in Pennsylvania?

Civil Engineering graduates in Pennsylvania earn an average of $62,579 within two years of graduation. This is 4% above the national average of $60,160 for this major.

What is the hardest Civil Engineering school to get into in Pennsylvania?

Carnegie Mellon University is the most selective Civil Engineering program in Pennsylvania with an acceptance rate of 11.4%. The average acceptance rate across Civil Engineering programs in the state is 64.8%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Civil Engineering in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, private Civil Engineering programs produce average earnings of $63,704 vs $61,703 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 9 public and 7 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in Pennsylvania

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other $75,470 Computer Science $73,789 Industrial Engineering $72,008 Chemical Engineering $71,780 Business/Managerial Economics $71,719 Materials Engineering $71,420 Computer Engineering $71,107 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $71,033

All colleges in Pennsylvania →

Civil Engineering in Other States

California Texas Ohio New York Florida Massachusetts Indiana Connecticut Washington Illinois Tennessee Michigan View All →

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.