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Students that have an interest in design and construction always wish to study civil engineering. In the U.S, Michigan has some of the best schools that offer degrees in civil engineering. In addition, the career is very lucrative and has better job prospects for its graduates.

Do you wish to acquire top-notch civil engineering education in the U.S? If yes, then, we have put together an analysis of the top civil engineering schools in Michigan for you based on acceptance rates, accreditation, tuition fees, and the number of programs. Studying in any of the institutions will help you develop the skillset to build a better career.

According to research, civil engineering happens to be the oldest branch of engineering. This is because the profession has been an aspect of life since human existence.

Civil engineering in Michigan is usually a four-year undergraduate program that teaches students the skills that industries need. Most of the top schools in Michigan that have civil engineering degrees require strong academic grades in math and other science subjects.

In addition, the four-year duration is usually divided into eight (8) semesters. For students to graduate, they must have to pass 10+2 examinations or an equivalent examination from a recognized board.

So, just relax and read on! This article aims at providing answers to the following questions on the best schools for Civil Engineering CE in Michigan.

Before I continue, let’s go through the table of content below to get an overview of what the article entails.

Why study at Michigan?

Students in the U.S, as well as international students, see Michigan as a hub of learning for so many reasons. Meanwhile, we will discuss some of these reasons below.

Firstly, Michigan has approximately 119 institutions of higher learning that offer world-class education to its students. It might interest you to know that Ann Arbor has the second-highest student population in the whole of the United States.

Secondly, student life at Michigan schools is something to have an experience of. At the institutions, American Football is central to student entertainment as well as the Greek system of fraternities and sororities.

Thirdly, many schools in Michigan offer scholarships based on merit or financial need. Scholarships from Michigan schools are not as widely available for international students as it is for in-state students. However, international students can win scholarships from their country’s government in order to make study in Michigan possible. 

Finally, international students can work after graduation depending on their type of visa they have. For STEM students, they have 29 months to live and work after graduation in Michigan.

Check out: 15 Best Civil Engineering Summer Internships In 2026

What does a Civil Engineer do?

A civil engineer is a professional that designs and oversees the construction of public works including roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, buildings, airports, water and sewage systems, and other large infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, the duties of a civil engineer include:

  • Michigan Technological University
  • The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Lawrence Technological University
  • Michigan State University
  • Wayne State University
  • Western Michigan University
  • Central Michigan University
  • University of Detroit Mercy
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Siena Heights University
  • Ferris State University
  • Northern Michigan University
  • St Clair County Community College
  • Monroe County Community College
  • Lansing Community College

1. Michigan Technological University

Michigan Technological University is a public research university in Houghton, Michigan that was founded in 1885.

The university offers over 120 undergraduate and graduate degrees. They include engineering, natural and physical sciences, computing, business and economics, technology, environmental studies, arts, humanities, and social sciences.

At MTU, civil engineering is one of the majors at the institution. The university offers bachelor’s, masters, and doctoral programs in civil engineering. During the 2026/18 academic year, MTU awarded 81 bachelor’s degrees and 34 master’s in civil engineering.

Additionally, graduates of civil engineering at Michigan Tech earn an average salary of $64,500 annually within the first five years of their careers.

On the other hand, MTU has an acceptance rate of 74% and a graduation rate of 65%. Its student-faculty ratio is 13:1. The tuition fee for the civil engineering program is $16,130 (Michigan resident) and $36,432 (out-of-state).

Michigan Tech holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Read also: 15 Best Online Civil Engineering Bachelor Degree In 2026

3. Lawrence Technological University

Lawrence Technological University is a private university in Southfield, Michigan that was established in 1932. 

LTU has a student enrollment of approximately 4,500 students, offering more than 100 programs in four colleges. In addition, Lawrence Tech offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs in civil engineering. This makes it stand-out as one of the best schools in Michigan that award civil engineering degrees.

Furthermore, the university offers online programs for students that are working or cannot visit the campus regularly for classes. During the 2026/18 academic year, about 891 students took online classes at Lawrence Tech.

Graduates of this great institution make an average starting salary of $55,300 annually.

LTU has an acceptance rate of 60%, a graduation rate of 64%, and a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. The undergraduate tuition for the civil engineering program at Lawrence Tech is $1160 per credit hour.

The university holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

5. Wayne State University

Wayne State University is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan that was established in 1868.

WSU is made up of 13 schools and colleges that offer over 350 programs to approximately 27,000 students. In addition, the school offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in civil engineering thereby making it one of the best in the field in Michigan.

During the 2026/18 academic year, the university awarded 40 bachelor’s, 38 master’s, and 2 doctoral degrees to its students. Interestingly, graduates of WSU with bachelor’s degree earn an average salary of $60,800 while those with master’s degree earn $71,900 per year.

WSU has an acceptance rate of 67%, a graduation rate of 34%, and a student-faculty ratio of 16:1. The undergraduate tuition for the civil engineering program is $478.16 per credit hour (Michigan resident) and $1,126 per credit hour (out-of-state).

Wayne State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

7. Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University is a public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that was founded in 1892. It has a student enrollment of over 20,000 on-campus students as well as about 7,000 students that take their classes online. 

CMU offers 200 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels of which civil engineering is a major. Central Michigan University comes into the list of top schools for civil engineering in the state.

The university has an acceptance rate of 68%, a graduation rate of 59%, and a student-faculty ratio of 20:1. Its undergraduate tuition for the civil engineering program is $434.00/credit hour.

Central Michigan University is accredited by he Higher Learning Commission.

9. Eastern Michigan University

Michigan University is a public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan that was founded in 1849. Presently, the university comprises of seven colleges and schools.

The civil engineering program at EMU prepares students for productive careers in the field. It lays emphasis on at least four areas of civil engineering, including and not limited to, Structural Analysis and Design, Transportation Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Water and Waste Water Engineering, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, and Pavement and Materials Engineering. 

Interestingly, graduates of civil engineering from EMU make a starting salary ranging from $60,000 to $75,000 and climbing to $100,000 within five to ten years. So, you can see why EMU is among the top schools for civil engineering in Michigan.

The university has an acceptance rate of 45%, a graduation rate of 39%, and a student-faculty ratio of 14:1. The undergraduate tuition fee for the civil engineering program is $10,480.

EMU holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

11. Ferris State University

Ferris State University is a public research university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan that was established in 1884.

At the university, the civil engineering program focuses on instruction in soil and material testing, highway technology, engineering, design, and the construction process. Additionally, the courses in the program include English, mathematics, and physics as well as related courses in soil and materials testing, surveying, estimating, plans and specifications, basic computer skills, hydrology, highway design, and computer design.

FSU has an acceptance rate of 74%, a graduation rate of 45%, and a student-faculty ratio of 16:1.The tuition fee for the civil engineering program is $443 per credit hour (U.S and Canadian citizens) and $715 per credit hour (international students).

The university holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

13. St. Clair County Community College

St. Clair County Community College is a public community college in Port Huron, Michigan that was established in 1923. The university offers associate and certificate programs as well as online programs.

The civil engineering program at the institution emphasizes planning, design, construction, and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, sewers, and water distribution systems.

Furthermore, the university has an acceptance rate of 100%, a graduation rate of 23.7%, and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. The tuition fee at SC4 is as follows:

  • $136 per contact hour and $31.50 technology fee per contact hour (Residents of St. Clair County Community College district)
  • $257 per contact hour and $31.50 technology fee per contact hour (Residents of the state of Michigan outside the college district)
  • $375 per contact hour and $31.50 technology fee per contact hour (out-of-state and international students enrolled through visas)

St. Clair County Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

15. Lansing Community College

Lansing Community College is a public community college with its main campus in Lansing, Michigan that was established in 1957.

LCC has an acceptance rate of 100%, a graduation rate of 11.5%, and a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. The tuition fee for the civil engineering program at LCC is $222 per credit hour (in-state), $333 (out-of-state), and $389 (international students).

LCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

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