Best colleges for Civil Engineering in California
Program-level earnings — not school prestige — rank these. Among the California programs in the federal field-of-study file, University of California-Berkeley leads: its Civil Engineering graduates earn a median $108,548 four years after finishing, against the field's $86,517 national median. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026.)
| # | College | Grad earnings, 4 yrs | Vs field median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $108,548 | +$22,031 |
| 2 | University of Southern California | $106,308 | +$19,791 |
| 3 | Santa Clara University | $105,594 | +$19,077 |
| 4 | Loyola Marymount University | $103,223 | +$16,706 |
| 5 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $101,072 | +$14,555 |
| 6 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | $97,790 | +$11,273 |
| 7 | California State University-Northridge | $97,123 | +$10,606 |
| 8 | University of California-Los Angeles | $97,092 | +$10,575 |
| 9 | University of California-Irvine | $96,354 | +$9,837 |
| 10 | University of California-Davis | $95,939 | +$9,422 |
Frequently asked questions
Which California college is best for Civil Engineering?
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley — its Civil Engineering bachelor's graduates earn a median $108,548 four years out, the highest of the 10 California programs in the federal file.
What do Civil Engineering graduates earn in California?
Across the ranked California programs, median earnings four years after completion run from $95,939 to $108,548. The field's national median is $86,517.
Is a Civil Engineering degree worth it?
On national medians, yes — Civil Engineering graduates earn $38,157/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. See the full field profile for payback math.