36 Best Private PhD Civil Engineering Universities in the USA

Compare 146 programs at 36 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

Programs 146 Universities 36 Scholarships 0

36 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, Ohio · Private University · Est. 1967

US #3 QS World #174 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $41,190/yr
Admission rate: 37%
Earnings (10yr): $87,989
Students: 6,437

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University of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida · Private University · Est. 1925

US #8 QS World #250 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $37,244/yr
Admission rate: 19%
Earnings (10yr): $75,328
Students: 12,913

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Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1852

US #9 QS World #251 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $39,998/yr
Admission rate: 11%
Earnings (10yr): $83,214
Students: 7,061

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, New York · Private University · Est. 1824

US #11 QS World #350 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $36,228/yr
Admission rate: 63%
Earnings (10yr): $102,051
Students: 5,714

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Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1891

US #25 QS World #601 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $38,509/yr
Admission rate: 79%
Earnings (10yr): $84,648
Students: 13,233

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Lehigh University

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1865

US #29 QS World #601 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $36,931/yr
Admission rate: 26%
Earnings (10yr): $105,584
Students: 5,898

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Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York · Private University · Est. 1870

US #30 QS World #611 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $38,793/yr
Admission rate: 46%
Earnings (10yr): $79,164
Students: 15,477

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Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoboken, New Jersey · Private University · Est. 1870

US #36 QS World #701 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $41,346/yr
Admission rate: 48%
Earnings (10yr): $108,772
Students: 4,222

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University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California · Private University · Est. 1880

US #51 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $32,740/yr
Admission rate: 10%
Earnings (10yr): $92,498
Students: 20,443

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Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, New York · Private University · Est. 1754

US #58 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $21,590/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $102,491
Students: 8,973

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Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois · Private University · Est. 1851

US #60 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $29,167/yr
Admission rate: 8%
Earnings (10yr): $89,363
Students: 9,201

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New York University

New York, New York · Private University · Est. 1831

US #61 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $37,050/yr
Admission rate: 9%
Earnings (10yr): $82,509
Students: 28,663

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George Washington University

Washington, District of Columbia · Private University · Est. 1821

US #77 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $36,586/yr
Admission rate: 47%
Earnings (10yr): $90,873
Students: 11,182

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Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland · Private University · Est. 1876

US #93 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $18,809/yr
Admission rate: 6%
Earnings (10yr): $87,555
Students: 5,693

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Cornell University

Ithaca, New York · Private University · Est. 1865

US #98 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $28,690/yr
Admission rate: 9%
Earnings (10yr): $104,043
Students: 15,995

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University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana · Private University · Est. 1842

US #109 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $26,780/yr
Admission rate: 11%
Earnings (10yr): $99,980
Students: 8,818

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Duke University

Durham, North Carolina · Private University · Est. 1838

US #129 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $29,612/yr
Admission rate: 6%
Earnings (10yr): $97,800
Students: 6,442

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Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1898

US #136 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $30,915/yr
Admission rate: 5%
Earnings (10yr): $92,538
Students: 17,326

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Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1900

US #151 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $31,944/yr
Admission rate: 12%
Earnings (10yr): $114,862
Students: 7,304

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Brigham Young University

Provo, Utah · Private University · Est. 1875

US #183 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $15,564/yr
Admission rate: 68%
Earnings (10yr): $75,790
Students: 32,952

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Stanford University

Stanford, California · Private University · Est. 1885

US #198 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $13,807/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $124,080
Students: 7,554

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Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas · Private University · Est. 1911

US #204 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $40,892/yr
Admission rate: 63%
Earnings (10yr): $78,354
Students: 7,277

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Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee · Private University · Est. 1873

US #208 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $15,846/yr
Admission rate: 6%
Earnings (10yr): $91,565
Students: 7,208

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The Catholic University of America

Washington, District of Columbia · Private University · Est. 1887

US #222 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $29,561/yr
Admission rate: 83%
Earnings (10yr): $73,250
Students: 3,154

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What this subject pays

Graduates of Civil Engineering programmes report a median $63,005 two years after finishing, across 325 programmes that publish the figure , against median debt of $24,503.

Civil Engineering pay by degree level →

By university type

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Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for private PhD Civil Engineering universities in the USA?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include Case Western Reserve University, University of Miami, Tufts University. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

How much does it cost to study private PhD Civil Engineering universities in the USA?

Costs vary widely by university: public institutions charge in-state residents far less than out-of-state and international students, and private universities set one price for everyone. Every listing above shows the published tuition and net price we hold from the federal College Scorecard, so you can compare like with like.

Can international students work while studying private PhD Civil Engineering universities in the USA?

Yes, within the rules of the F-1 student visa: on-campus work during term, Curricular Practical Training tied to the program, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating — with a longer extension for eligible STEM degrees.

About private PhD Civil Engineering universities in the USA

This page lists private PhD Civil Engineering universities in the USA held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Program and cost figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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