Civil Engineering Degree in Houston, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Civil Engineering degree analysis for Houston, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$78K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$115K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.5 yrs
in Houston
Cost of Living
115
index (100 = avg)
Civil Engineering in Houston, TX Overview
Houston is one of Texas's top college towns, with 90 institutions and a student population of 71,513. Public tuition averages $10,200/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Civil Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Structural Analysis and AutoCAD. The adjusted starting salary in Houston is approximately $78,200.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
90
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$56,280/yr
Room & Board
$13,520/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,081/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
72%
Civil Engineering Salary in Houston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Houston's cost of living index of 115 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Civil Engineering salary: $68,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $125,000 senior level.Houston adjustment factor: 1.15x based on the local cost of living index.
Civil Engineering ROI Calculator for Houston
Estimate your return on investment for a Civil Engineering degree using local Houston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $56,280
Houston avg aid: $13,081/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,880
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$37,950
vs HS diploma in Houston
ROI Payback Period
2.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Houston
$882,620
Lifetime earnings premium ($977,500) minus total education cost ($94,880)
Student Loan Payoff for Civil Engineering in Houston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Houston for Civil Engineering
University of Houston
public
$11,164/yr
$44,656 total
Rice University
private
$56,280/yr
$225,120 total
Texas Southern University
public
$9,236/yr
$36,944 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Houston Community College
$2,688/yr
Top Employers for Civil Engineering in Houston
Houston offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Civil Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Houston Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Civil Engineering Job Titles
Civil Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
San Antonio, TX
$82K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$71K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$73K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$69K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$63K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$64K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$56K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$58K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Houston
Petroleum Engineering
$58K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$94K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$58K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$92K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$92K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$90K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Civil Engineering Degree in Houston — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Civil Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Houston.