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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

$91,521
1,013
100–89%
$91,551
2,594
88–72%
$92,892
2,645
72–52%
$98,847
941
48–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$86,004
760
400–1080
$88,054
1,740
1080–1180
$93,778
1,743
1190–1280
$94,425
774
1320–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$73,975p10 $103,661p90 Arts Military STEM Non-Research Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–25 Private University 21–40 Savannah College of Art and Design · $77,112 Everglades University · $94,521 Cal State Maritime Academy · $167,604 Milwaukee School of Engineering · $90,385 Wentworth Institute of Technology · $103,212 Lawrence Technological University · $89,254 Dordt University · $81,257 Keene State College · $79,281 Cal State Long Beach · $116,039 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $115,964 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · $86,449 San Diego State University · $96,703 Alabama A&M University · $78,243 University of Washington · $111,996 Cal Poly - Pomona · $111,388 Clemson University · $89,479 Florida International University · $92,297 Morgan State University · $78,655 Norfolk State University · $79,192 University of West Florida · $81,901 New Mexico State University · $81,903 Tarleton State University · $102,197 Central Connecticut State University · $92,098 University of Arkansas at Little Rock · $75,135 Central State University · $72,954 Northwestern Oklahoma State University · $69,415 Illinois State University · $94,268 Mississippi State University · $75,707 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $92,673 Arkansas State University · $74,814 Wayne State University · $83,001 University of Central Missouri · $104,389 Appalachian State University · $76,819 Fresno State · $103,661 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry · $81,476 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $90,108 Louisiana Tech University · $76,007 University of Houston · $94,660 West Virginia University Institute of Technology · $82,814 Ball State University · $88,434 Central Michigan University · $70,146 Eastern Michigan University · $71,247 Oklahoma State University · $104,699 New Jersey Institute of Technology · $92,661 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $93,440 Texas State University · $96,457 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $96,369 Louisiana State University · $96,044 Northern Michigan University · $89,848 Cal State Sacramento · $105,666 Eastern Illinois University · $80,072 Georgia Southern University · $101,493 Missouri State University - Springfield · $89,605 Murray State University · $61,507 Oregon Institute of Technology · $91,315 Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville · $85,675 Temple University · $88,794 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi · $80,898 Troy University · $74,928 University of Colorado Denver · $83,358 University of Houston - Downtown · $73,975 University of Northern Iowa · $83,917 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $91,112 University of Texas at Tyler · $82,842 Western Illinois University · $84,868 Farmingdale State College · $79,120 Cal State East Bay · $116,686 Michigan Technological University · $85,804 Oregon State University · $106,199 Washington State University · $116,586 Boise State University · $111,191 Purdue University Northwest · $99,012 Prairie View A&M University · $82,312 SUNY Polytechnic Institute · $83,927 University of North Florida · $91,779 Chico State · $128,540 East Tennessee State University · $77,099 Eastern Kentucky University · $83,463 Fitchburg State University · $80,952 Middle Tennessee State University · $89,376 Northern Arizona University · $98,073 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $78,553 Youngstown State University · $78,198 Western Carolina University · $85,272 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $77,623 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $90,832 University of Toledo · $79,425 University of New Orleans · $77,019 University of North Texas · $90,674 Colorado State University - Fort Collins · $100,451 Fairmont State University · $76,954 Kennesaw State University · $89,624 Kent State University at Kent · $75,683 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $71,177 Michigan State University · $103,264 Purdue University Fort Wayne · $73,207 Savannah State University · $63,502 Stephen F. Austin State University · $77,381 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $84,464 Rowan University · $124,164 Central Washington University · $103,530 Colorado Mesa University · $91,838 Colorado State University - Pueblo · $82,820 Ferris State University · $82,221 Indiana State University · $76,377 Northern Kentucky University · $89,765 Saint Cloud State University · $79,734 South Dakota State University · $86,440 Southern Utah University · $84,489 University of Akron · $81,215 University of Maine · $81,598 West Virginia University · $73,522 Western Kentucky University · $78,909 Arizona State University · $105,722 Cal State Northridge · $102,821 South Carolina State University · $70,395 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $90,462 Florida Gulf Coast University · $87,740 University of Texas at San Antonio · $92,856 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $97,088 North Dakota State University · $93,119 University of Southern Mississippi · $69,423 Pittsburg State University · $90,007 Idaho State University · $82,752 Kansas State University · $94,083 University of Wyoming · $88,174 Bluefield State University · $70,530 Sam Houston State University · $89,884 Montana State University · $89,788 Missouri Western State University · $64,578 Montana State University - Northern · $79,984 Utah Valley University · $100,482 Weber State University · $98,711 Brigham Young University · $93,016 John Brown University · $99,760 California Baptist University · $89,637 Siena Heights University · $76,159 Concordia University Wisconsin · $85,978 Ohio Northern University · $65,422 Southern Adventist University · $82,456 University of Mary · $81,353 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $91,212 Florida Institute of Technology · $87,555 Rochester Institute of Technology · $77,998 Tuskegee University · $85,365 Roger Williams University · $102,001 Thomas Jefferson University · $87,174 Trine University · $81,146 University of Hartford · $58,924 Point Park University · $76,332 Drexel University · $99,117 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $84,114 Norwich University · $79,530 Utica University · $96,484 National University · $95,005 University of Florida · $112,831 Purdue University · $93,412 Texas A&M University - College Station · $101,224 Auburn University · $61,443 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $90,804 Virginia Tech · $96,974 Tulane University · $89,645 Arts: mean $77,112 Military: mean $131,063 STEM Non-Research: mean $94,284 Liberal Arts: mean $80,269 Public University: mean $88,003 Religious University: mean $84,999 Private University: mean $85,442 Public University 1–25: mean $92,781 Private University 21–40: mean $89,645 All colleges: p10 $73,975 All colleges: p90 $103,661
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Construction 167 7,193 84% / 16% 2% $89,488 98%
Construction Management 86 3,851 87% / 13% 1% $90,905 98%
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician 21 991 89% / 11% 1% $95,865 98%
Construction Engineering Technology 21 472 86% / 14% 1% $82,510 99%
Construction Science 2 377 88% / 12% 1% $91,768 97%
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians 4 236 82% / 18% 2% $83,897 98%
Civil Engineering Technology 17 211 83% / 17% 3% $75,486 97%
Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD 1 152 9% / 91% 31% $77,109
Construction Engineering Management 2 135 86% / 14% 1% $111,119 98%
Architectural Engineering Technology 3 108 59% / 41% 4% $65,503 96%
Building Construction 1 94 87% / 13% 2% $97,079 96%
Construction Science and Management 2 84 90% / 10% 0% $87,422 95%
Construction Engineering and Management 1 69 74% / 26% 9% $96,832 100%
Surveying Technology/Surveying 5 56 93% / 7% 0% $84,775 100%
CAD Design Technology 2 51 80% / 20% 0% $64,754 99%
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians 2 39 74% / 26% 0% $74,206 94%
Building Construction Management 1 38 53% / 47% 21% $61,443 100%
Surveying Technology 4 34 91% / 9% 0% $86,114
Building Construction Science 1 34 88% / 12% 0% $76,902
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician 2 29 14% / 86% 31% $84,461
Sustainable Real Estate Development 1 23 35% / 65% 9% $89,645
Land Use Planning and Management/Development 3 21 100% / 0% 0% $69,460 96%
Surveying and Mapping 1 19 89% / 11% 0% $80,589
Landscape Contracting and Management 1 18 78% / 22% 0% $73,450
Surveying and Mapping Science 1 14 86% / 14% 0% $77,099
Surveying and Geomatics 2 12 83% / 17% 0% $85,488
Heavy Equipment Technology 1 9 100% / 0% 0% $80,009 100%
Construction Technology 1 7 100% / 0% 14% $87,555
Facilities Engineering Technology 1 7 71% / 29% 0% $167,604 100%
Mason/Masonry 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $69,415
Water Resources Management 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $72,954