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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

$98,413
1,103
100–93%
$98,662
2,636
92–80%
$100,420
2,660
79–47%
$106,509
1,154
47–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$94,797
852
400–1060
$98,378
2,098
1060–1190
$103,400
2,220
1190–1330
$104,817
850
1330–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$80,044p10 $111,066p90 Art & Music STEM, Business & Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University 20–30% 10–20% Savannah College of Art and Design · $94,368 Florida Institute of Technology · $86,030 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry · $90,685 Rochester Institute of Technology · $76,216 Milwaukee School of Engineering · $104,438 New Jersey Institute of Technology · $94,769 Cal Poly - Pomona · $101,433 SUNY Polytechnic Institute · $75,881 Lawrence Technological University · $97,491 Montana Technological University · $88,330 Michigan Technological University · $94,558 Wentworth Institute of Technology · $106,399 Oregon Institute of Technology · $90,807 Cal State Maritime Academy · $151,350 Dordt University · $91,651 Keene State College · $88,820 San Diego State University · $100,967 Alabama A&M University · $80,044 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $95,756 University of Washington · $99,158 Clemson University · $96,421 Purdue University · $106,881 Cal State Long Beach · $98,560 Auburn University · $66,912 Texas A&M University - College Station · $112,764 Norfolk State University · $83,296 Tarleton State University · $105,045 University of West Florida · $88,133 Virginia Tech · $109,411 New Mexico State University · $95,387 Central Connecticut State University · $98,617 University of Arkansas at Little Rock · $85,204 Central State University · $81,283 Florida International University · $94,051 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $108,466 University of Central Missouri · $98,077 West Virginia University Institute of Technology · $98,190 Fresno State · $88,208 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $108,158 Western Carolina University · $83,471 Ball State University · $104,529 Eastern Michigan University · $96,398 University of North Florida · $98,085 Minnesota State University Moorhead · $103,686 Georgia Southern University · $108,971 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $104,004 Eastern Illinois University · $96,195 Louisiana State University · $108,143 Louisiana Tech University · $93,299 Western Illinois University · $79,166 Farmingdale State College · $83,636 Oklahoma State University · $111,066 University of Colorado Denver · $95,675 Cal State East Bay · $112,037 University of Houston · $105,939 Purdue University Northwest · $101,367 Rowan University · $119,364 Prairie View A&M University · $72,018 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $108,171 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $94,002 East Tennessee State University · $92,439 Eastern Kentucky University · $104,428 Middle Tennessee State University · $93,727 Youngstown State University · $82,292 Arkansas State University · $97,510 Oregon State University · $111,861 Kennesaw State University · $98,084 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $91,976 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $104,715 University of Toledo · $87,317 University of New Orleans · $99,823 University of North Texas · $92,270 Eastern Washington University · $78,056 Fairmont State University · $82,485 Morgan State University · $89,018 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $70,651 Ferris State University · $84,995 Purdue University Fort Wayne · $97,946 Savannah State University · $76,427 Michigan State University · $97,264 Stephen F. Austin State University · $91,257 Mississippi State University · $86,202 Wayne State University · $82,680 Boise State University · $114,403 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $94,277 Murray State University · $68,131 Central Washington University · $101,813 Colorado Mesa University · $89,352 Colorado State University - Pueblo · $100,233 Northern Kentucky University · $86,705 Saint Cloud State University · $82,343 South Dakota State University · $97,145 Southern Utah University · $97,258 University of Akron · $95,593 University of Maine · $95,639 West Virginia University · $73,648 Northern Michigan University · $88,900 Illinois State University · $95,635 Washington State University · $116,493 Temple University · $89,520 University of Houston - Downtown · $94,071 Cal State Northridge · $91,996 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $99,473 Arizona State University · $104,140 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $104,881 Colorado State University - Fort Collins · $103,166 Florida Gulf Coast University · $89,559 Northern Arizona University · $97,643 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point · $59,034 Central Michigan University · $71,239 University of Texas at San Antonio · $100,769 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $107,684 Chico State · $120,020 Texas State University · $114,161 Western Kentucky University · $96,976 Indiana State University · $99,685 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi · $91,433 North Dakota State University · $113,550 University of Southern Mississippi · $91,481 Missouri State University - Springfield · $104,909 University of Northern Iowa · $110,477 Cal State Sacramento · $96,440 Sam Houston State University · $112,241 Appalachian State University · $94,432 Pittsburg State University · $93,801 University of Texas at Tyler · $93,488 Kansas State University · $108,738 University of Wyoming · $97,753 Troy University · $92,738 Bluefield State University · $89,802 Idaho State University · $91,765 Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville · $107,335 Montana State University · $103,495 Missouri Western State University · $68,527 Glenville State University · $91,236 Montana State University - Northern · $92,756 Utah Valley University · $101,526 Weber State University · $114,928 John Brown University · $111,868 Harding University · $88,336 Brigham Young University · $121,826 California Baptist University · $86,678 Concordia University Wisconsin · $100,714 Ohio Northern University · $69,573 University of Mary · $92,017 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $101,459 Tuskegee University · $94,190 Trine University · $79,455 Drexel University · $111,676 Thomas Jefferson University · $84,496 Point Park University · $81,284 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $90,814 Norwich University · $82,522 Roger Williams University · $105,261 Utica University · $95,861 University of Hartford · $61,858 National University · $98,325 Park University · $96,971 University of Florida · $114,815 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $104,731 Tulane University · $105,951 Florida A&M University · $87,358 Art & Music: mean $94,368 STEM, Business & Military: mean $96,799 Liberal Arts: mean $90,236 Public University: mean $95,705 Religious University: mean $96,559 Private University: mean $90,226 20–30%: mean $109,773 10–20%: mean $96,655 All colleges: p10 $80,044 All colleges: p90 $111,066
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Construction 170 7,553 84% / 16% 2% $97,051 97%
Construction Management 88 4,091 87% / 13% 2% $99,728 98%
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician 21 1,012 89% / 11% 1% $99,276 98%
Construction Engineering Technology 21 485 88% / 12% 2% $91,085 98%
Construction Science 2 439 89% / 11% 0% $92,391 94%
Civil Engineering Technology 17 237 80% / 20% 5% $82,488 97%
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians 4 219 78% / 22% 3% $98,114 95%
Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD 1 153 12% / 88% 27% $94,509
Construction Engineering Management 2 122 89% / 11% 2% $105,210 98%
Building Construction 1 120 88% / 12% 1% $109,323 100%
Architectural Engineering Technology 3 80 56% / 44% 1% $66,088 96%
Construction Science and Management 2 80 81% / 19% 0% $95,306 90%
Surveying Technology/Surveying 5 70 90% / 10% 0% $92,557 100%
CAD Design Technology 2 60 88% / 12% 3% $69,632 100%
Building Construction Science 1 59 86% / 14% 0% $86,514
Construction Engineering and Management 1 47 85% / 15% 4% $109,634 98%
Surveying Technology 4 40 88% / 12% 0% $89,758 100%
Building Construction Management 1 34 41% / 59% 3% $66,912 96%
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians 2 31 74% / 26% 3% $88,400 98%
Sustainable Real Estate Development 1 30 47% / 53% 7% $105,951
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician 2 27 7% / 93% 19% $93,005
Land Use Planning and Management/Development 5 26 65% / 35% 0% $70,532 95%
Surveying and Mapping Science 1 21 81% / 19% 5% $92,439
Surveying and Geomatics 2 16 94% / 6% 0% $96,932
Construction Technology 1 16 75% / 25% 6% $86,030
Heavy Equipment Technology 1 12 100% / 0% 0% $92,978 100%
Surveying and Mapping 1 12 100% / 0% 0% $96,976
Landscape Contracting and Management 1 7 86% / 14% 0% $83,570
Facilities Planning and Management 1 3 0% / 100% 0% $78,142
Facilities Engineering Technology 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $151,350 100%
Water Resources Management 1 2 0% / 100% 0% $81,283
CAD/CADD Drafting Design Technology 1 0 $89,945 100%
Civil Drafting 1 0 $95,151
Mason/Masonry 1 0 $78,777