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Construction

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Construction and civil technology programs apply core engineering and design principles to the built environment. Coursework leans on applied math, structural fundamentals, and project management rather than heavy theoretical physics. You will spend time learning estimating, surveying, site planning, and architectural drafting, often utilizing industry-standard software and completing hands-on site projects.

What you'll do after college

Graduates bridge the gap between civil engineers, architects, and trade workers on the job site. Common roles include construction manager, site supervisor, civil engineering technician, estimator, and surveyor. Employers include commercial developers, public works departments, and infrastructure contractors. The work often requires a mix of office planning and on-site physical presence.

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$94,604
1,134
100–90%
$92,469
2,625
89–76%
$96,786
2,797
75–52%
$96,298
938
52–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$89,817
862
400–1080
$92,425
1,964
1080–1200
$97,450
2,058
1200–1330
$96,547
798
1330–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$80,626p10 $104,141p90 Arts Military STEM Non-Research Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–15 Private University 1–30 Savannah College of Art and Design · $82,404 Everglades University · $87,413 Cal State Maritime Academy · $151,350 Wentworth Institute of Technology · $96,522 Milwaukee School of Engineering · $94,105 Lawrence Technological University · $92,330 Dordt University · $88,720 Keene State College · $83,592 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · $87,358 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $104,663 San Diego State University · $90,598 Alabama A&M University · $87,254 University of Washington · $101,753 Cal Poly - Pomona · $101,519 Clemson University · $90,747 Florida International University · $84,616 Morgan State University · $75,453 Cal State Long Beach · $102,433 Auburn University · $65,836 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $97,608 Texas A&M University - College Station · $106,756 Norfolk State University · $84,273 University of West Florida · $88,582 Virginia Tech · $97,984 New Mexico State University · $90,674 Tarleton State University · $105,045 Central Connecticut State University · $89,260 University of Arkansas at Little Rock · $85,204 Central State University · $83,051 Illinois State University · $97,386 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $97,191 Arkansas State University · $86,320 University of Central Missouri · $111,516 Appalachian State University · $82,170 Fresno State · $93,796 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry · $89,960 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $89,443 West Virginia University Institute of Technology · $88,880 Ball State University · $95,439 Central Michigan University · $71,241 Eastern Michigan University · $70,118 Oklahoma State University · $115,132 New Jersey Institute of Technology · $87,866 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $90,097 Texas State University · $98,499 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $107,824 Eastern Illinois University · $83,966 Louisiana State University · $103,626 Louisiana Tech University · $83,212 Cal State Sacramento · $96,416 Georgia Southern University · $104,783 Minnesota State University Moorhead · $97,623 Missouri State University - Springfield · $96,849 Murray State University · $67,491 Oregon Institute of Technology · $91,230 Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville · $92,865 Temple University · $88,989 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi · $89,846 Troy University · $82,666 University of Colorado Denver · $85,139 University of Houston - Downtown · $75,304 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $99,130 University of Texas at Tyler · $90,349 Western Illinois University · $86,377 Farmingdale State College · $75,337 Cal State East Bay · $102,082 Oregon State University · $101,204 Washington State University · $116,493 University of Houston · $96,416 Purdue University Northwest · $101,375 Rowan University · $117,383 Prairie View A&M University · $86,319 SUNY Polytechnic Institute · $83,497 University of North Florida · $90,208 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $81,294 Chico State · $120,020 East Tennessee State University · $86,704 Eastern Kentucky University · $90,775 Middle Tennessee State University · $94,409 Youngstown State University · $83,047 Western Carolina University · $88,157 Kennesaw State University · $93,411 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $74,530 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $100,200 University of Toledo · $84,891 University of New Orleans · $88,029 University of North Texas · $90,632 Colorado State University - Fort Collins · $99,134 Fairmont State University · $80,626 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $71,314 Purdue University Fort Wayne · $78,607 Savannah State University · $65,403 Stephen F. Austin State University · $85,861 Michigan State University · $103,771 Mississippi State University · $89,317 Wayne State University · $82,681 Boise State University · $112,244 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $88,847 Central Washington University · $94,982 Colorado Mesa University · $92,864 Colorado State University - Pueblo · $86,644 Ferris State University · $84,392 Indiana State University · $82,653 Northern Kentucky University · $96,330 Saint Cloud State University · $80,852 Southern Utah University · $87,995 University of Akron · $87,261 University of Maine · $82,859 West Virginia University · $76,427 Western Kentucky University · $86,884 Northern Michigan University · $88,896 Michigan Technological University · $88,429 Arizona State University · $104,141 Cal State Northridge · $91,996 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $94,607 Florida Gulf Coast University · $88,496 Northern Arizona University · $96,303 University of Texas at San Antonio · $96,502 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $102,611 North Dakota State University · $103,540 University of Southern Mississippi · $84,558 University of Northern Iowa · $92,573 Pittsburg State University · $101,620 Idaho State University · $87,372 Kansas State University · $104,443 University of Wyoming · $93,498 Sam Houston State University · $95,056 Bluefield State University · $80,730 Montana State University · $90,139 Missouri Western State University · $68,529 Montana State University - Northern · $85,395 Utah Valley University · $97,578 Weber State University · $99,759 John Brown University · $111,868 Harding University · $90,321 California Baptist University · $85,413 Brigham Young University · $95,105 Concordia University Wisconsin · $90,582 Ohio Northern University · $69,659 University of Mary · $90,121 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $92,075 Tuskegee University · $91,468 Florida Institute of Technology · $88,858 Roger Williams University · $98,639 Thomas Jefferson University · $85,711 Trine University · $84,204 University of Hartford · $57,029 Point Park University · $84,773 Drexel University · $97,967 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $83,841 Norwich University · $80,354 Utica University · $95,861 National University · $88,749 University of Florida · $112,419 Purdue University · $97,292 Tulane University · $91,387 Arts: mean $82,404 Military: mean $119,382 STEM Non-Research: mean $94,319 Liberal Arts: mean $86,156 Public University: mean $91,124 Religious University: mean $90,643 Private University: mean $86,455 Public University 1–15: mean $104,856 Private University 1–30: mean $91,387 All colleges: p10 $80,626 All colleges: p90 $104,141
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Construction 172 7,649 85% / 15% 2% $92,112 98%
Construction Management 89 4,223 87% / 13% 2% $93,818 98%
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician 21 1,012 89% / 11% 1% $95,933 98%
Construction Engineering Technology 22 485 88% / 12% 2% $85,414 99%
Construction Science 2 439 89% / 11% 0% $96,538 97%
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians 4 219 78% / 22% 3% $88,072 98%
Civil Engineering Technology 17 185 79% / 21% 5% $79,151 97%
Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD 1 153 12% / 88% 27% $82,420
Construction Engineering Management 2 122 89% / 11% 2% $101,818 98%
Building Construction 1 120 88% / 12% 1% $98,141 96%
Surveying Technology/Surveying 6 86 91% / 9% 0% $86,576 100%
Architectural Engineering Technology 3 80 56% / 44% 1% $62,980 96%
Construction Science and Management 2 80 81% / 19% 0% $91,108 95%
CAD Design Technology 2 60 88% / 12% 3% $68,675 99%
Building Construction Science 1 59 86% / 14% 0% $89,654
Construction Engineering and Management 1 47 85% / 15% 4% $97,584 100%
Surveying Technology 4 40 88% / 12% 0% $87,417
Building Construction Management 1 34 41% / 59% 3% $65,836 100%
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians 2 31 74% / 26% 3% $73,744 94%
Sustainable Real Estate Development 1 30 47% / 53% 7% $91,387
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician 2 27 7% / 93% 19% $86,864
Land Use Planning and Management/Development 5 26 65% / 35% 0% $70,129 96%
Surveying and Mapping Science 1 21 81% / 19% 5% $86,704
Surveying and Geomatics 2 16 94% / 6% 0% $90,122
Construction Technology 1 16 75% / 25% 6% $88,858
Heavy Equipment Technology 1 12 100% / 0% 0% $80,535 100%
Surveying and Mapping 1 12 100% / 0% 0% $87,063
Landscape Contracting and Management 1 7 86% / 14% 0% $86,478
Facilities Planning and Management 1 3 0% / 100% 0% $90,321
Facilities Engineering Technology 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $151,350 100%
Water Resources Management 1 2 0% / 100% 0% $83,051