The entire infrastructure of the world around us – roads, bridges, buildings and more – only exists through the work of civil engineers. Civil engineers use the principles of science and mathematics to produce solutions to real-world infrastructure needs and problems. To work in the role of a civil engineer, you need a civil engineering degree. Colleges and universities have offered degrees in civil engineering for hundreds of years. Today, online civil engineering bachelor degree programs make an engineering education more accessible.
Why Study Civil Engineering Online
Studying civil engineering allows you to make a difference. Civil engineers design infrastructure. Today every bridge you pass over, every public street and much of what you think of as a “city” is an example of civil infrastructure – and is designed and implemented through civil engineering. Examples of civil engineering projects include everything from highways, airports and tunnels to the modern sewer system, water resources management systems and solutions to environmental problems.
A career in engineering will challenge you (in a good way). Civil engineering career opportunities also offer you a chance to earn a high salary. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a median annual salary of $89,940 for civil engineers as of 2022. If you find yourself interested in how things work and in the technologies that are crucial to modern human life, then a civil engineering degree could be a good choice for you.
What about an online civil engineering degree? Earning a civil engineering degree online is a great option for working students, students who are caregivers, students with disabilities, nontraditional students and students who enjoy flexibility. In an online civil engineering degree program, you can attend class from the comfort of your living room, the office or anywhere in the world, as long as you have reliable Internet access. You can also choose a school that would be too far away for you to commute to for in-person studies. Many online civil engineering degree programs allow you to log into the virtual classroom and access course materials on your own schedule, so you can study before or after work, during lunch breaks or while the kids are napping. Online degree programs aren’t easy. They require you to complete rigorous college-level coursework just as in-person programs do, and students have to rely on self-motivation, rather than regular face-to-face interactions with teachers and peers, to get them through the course. However, for students who need flexibility, online learning is often the best option.
When choosing an online civil engineering program, students should pay attention to the kind of degree awarded and the material covered in the curriculum. Not all online civil engineering bachelor’s degree options award the type of degree that prepares you to become an engineer. Many online civil engineering programs are engineering technology programs, which prepare you for technician or technologist roles. If you want to be qualified for full-fledged engineering work, get licensed as a professional engineer or pursue a graduate degree, you’re likely to need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering specifically. Some online programs instead confer degrees in general engineering, construction engineering and construction management.
The 10 Best Online Civil Engineering Bachelor Degree Programs
Engineering is a popular field of study. However, fully online civil engineering degree programs at the bachelor’s degree level are few and far between. Compiling a list of the top 10 best online civil engineering degree options in the nation requires us to consider a broader array of program titles beyond a traditional civil engineering degree. Our list below of the top civil engineering online degree programs encompasses bachelor’s degree options in civil engineering, general engineering, construction management and more. If you’re committed to finding an online civil engineering program, any of these institutions could prepare you for a career devoted to planning and carrying out civil engineering projects.
1. University of North Dakota
Kicking off our list of the best bachelor’s in civil engineering online degree programs is the University of North Dakota. The University of North Dakota is a public four-year institution located in Grand Forks.
The school dates back to 1883. Its current total enrollment of 13,876 (as of 2023) represents a growing institution, which boasts a 43% increase in four-year graduate rates over the last four years. More than 2,500 benefited employees work for the school, which is designated as a high research activity institution based on its Carnegie Classification as a Research University.
The University of North Dakota offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as professional certifications. The school was among the first colleges in the upper Midwest to offer online engineering degrees. Among the 389 programs of study currently available at the University of North Dakota, more than 200 programs are offered online.
Studying Civil Engineering Online at the University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota offers a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree both online and on campus. Students can typically complete this 128-credit hour online civil engineering degree program in four to five years. Because the program awards a B.S. in civil engineering (not technology) degree, this bachelor’s degree is ideal for aspiring civil engineers.
Courses topics in this ABET-accredited program of study include:
- Fluid mechanics
- General surveying
- Structural mechanics
- Transportation engineering
- Steel design
- Hydraulic engineering
In this civil engineering degree program, you will learn how to combine mathematics, science and engineering design principles to perform the work of civil engineering. Undergraduate students have plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning through laboratory courses, internships and research opportunities. The program includes senior design projects in which students work with industry partners to address real-world problems.
RELATED: What Civil Engineering Courses Will I Have to Take for a Degree in Civil Engineering?
With a civil engineering education from the University of North Dakota, you can expect to find job opportunities in some of the following areas:
- Engineering design development
- Structural engineering
- Transportation engineering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Water resources engineering
- Site development
- Construction management
- Environmental regulation
Students in the civil engineer online degree program at the Univesity of North Dakota often land job offers in their field even before they graduate. Students interested in pursuing an advanced degree should look into UND’s combined civil engineering degree program, through which students earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.
2. San Diego State University
Another school where you can earn a civil engineer degree online – or at least, partially online – is San Diego State University. This public research university in California began as a normal school for training teachers in 1897. Today, the institution educates more than 36,000 students and offers hundreds of programs of study across disciplines that range from business and economics to science and, of course, engineering.
San Diego State University is classified as an R2 institution for high research activity by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education. The institution offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees as well as certificate programs.
Earning a Bachelors in Civil Engineering Online at San Diego State University
Online education at San Diego State University takes the form of both fully online programs and hybrid programs. The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree completion program at SDSU falls into the latter category. Students in this online civil engineering degree program complete most of their coursework online, which they can do from anywhere in the world. However, the program requires students to visit campus for one nine-day on-site immersive instructional course.
As a degree completion program, San Diego State University’s civil engineering online bachelors degree is designed for students who already have an associate’s degree or an equivalent amount of credits of college-level study (60). The program is also intended for working adults
In this ABET-accredited curriculum, students must complete 76 units of college-level study. Naturally, much of the coursework is specific to civil engineering, including classes in the following areas:
- Introduction to civil engineering
- Mechanics for civil engineers
- Solid mechanics
- Construction materials
- Reinforced concrete design
- Surveying for civil engineering and construction
- Structural analysis
- Transportation engineering
- Highway engineering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Foundation engineering and earth retaining structures
- Applied hydrology
- Applied hydraulics
- Civil and environmental engineering computer applications
- Civil engineering and society
Other required courses include construction planning and scheduling, design of temporary structures, principles of engineering economy, construction and culture, fluid mechanics and a design capstone course.
3. Liberty University
Another institution that offers a rare civil engineering online bachelor degree is Liberty University. This private four-year institution is located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school serves more than 100,000 students – many of them through online learning.
Liberty is an evangelical Christian institution founded by a reverend, and some coursework in Christianity and theology is required. However, the school offers degree programs in a wide array of disciplines that aren’t directly related to religion. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education classifies Liberty University as a doctoral/professional university.
Liberty has been a pioneer in online learning, offering remote college coursework since the mid-1980s. The school has such an extensive online program for both undergraduate and graduate students that the majority of the liberal arts institution’s comprehensive programming may be completed online. Some of the most popular online degrees at Liberty University are in the fields of psychology, homeland security, education and business administration. To support the success of its students, Liberty University offers academic and career counseling, the opportunity to earn credit for life experiences and access to the Online Writing Center, online student communities and more than 750,000 articles and other academic resources.
Earning an Online Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering From Liberty University
Liberty University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, but the degree is technically a hybrid program. On average, students complete the 130-credit hour online civil engineering degree program, which includes two on-site “intensives,” in three and a half years. The flexible online civil engineering degree program allows students to plan to visit campus for hands-on instruction when the two-credit courses best fit into their schedule.
Building upon foundational courses in calculus, physics and analytical geometry, students complete core coursework in areas such as:
- Introduction to engineering
- Engineering design
- Structural analysis
- Steel structure design
- Concrete structure design
- Computer-aided design
- Mechanics of materials
- Statics
- Dynamics
- Fluid dynamics
- Soil mechanics Transportation engineering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydraulic engineering
- Project & construction management
- Engineering economy
- Professional practice in engineering
Technical electives, a course in general chemistry and 14 hours of quantitative studies round out the online civil engineering degree curriculum. If you have prior college studies, you can transfer up to 75% of the total required course credits for the degree from your previous institution.
4. University of Southern Mississippi
If you’re comfortable pursuing a technician or technologist role instead of a licensed engineer position, consider the University of Southern Mississippi for your civil engineering bachelor degree online. The University of Southern Mississippi is a public four-year institution located in Hattiesburg that dates back to 1910.
The University of Southern Mississippi has earned the “R1 Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Online programming at the University of Southern Mississippi has expanded in recent years. The school now offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees online, as well as certificate programs. More than 60 total programs are available online. Some of the most popular online degrees at the University of Southern Mississippi are in the fields of health, education and business.
Studying Construction Management Online at the University of Southern Mississippi
Among the University of Southern Mississippi’s online offerings is the Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. This is a 120-credit hour program that typically requires two to four years of study to complete. The program has been accredited by the American Council for Construction Education.
This online bachelors degree includes major course material, electives and general education requirements.
Students in this program devote 58 hours of coursework to their major area of study. Major coursework includes studies in areas like the following:
- Structural design
- Construction planning and scheduling
- construction project management
- Project controls
- Materials and methods of construction
- Statics and strengths of materials
- Soils and foundations
- Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems
- History of the built environment
- Construction safety
- Estimating
- Surveying
- Building information modeling
- Digital graphics
- Professional project management
Students in this program also complete an internship, a senior capstone course and additional coursework in science, mathematics and business.
5. Oregon State University
If you’re more interested in the construction side of the field, an online bachelor civil engineering degree from Oregon State University could fit your needs.
Oregon State University is a public research university that dates back to 1868. Today, the Corvallis, OR, school offers almost 200 programs of study. Oregon State University is particularly well-respected for the education it provides in disciplines like computer science, agriculture and forestry. Total enrollment at Oregon State University amounted to 35,239 as of 2023. More than 10,000 of these students are students of color. The school, which makes an effort to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment, is also home to seven cultural resource centers.
The school has the distinction of being one of only three universities in the United States to be designated as land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant universities. The school has both been designated as a “Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity” institution for research and been granted the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for its commitment to the community by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education.
Majoring in Construction Engineering Management at Oregon State
The online Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Management program at Oregon Stae University blends the disciplines of science, engineering, construction technology and project management.
The comprehensive – and extensive – curriculum includes 182 credits accrued through the University’s quarter-term system. Although that may sound like a lot of credits, it’s equal to 121.33 credits completed on a semester basis – which puts it about in line with the credit requirements of a traditional semester-based program. Courses begin four times a year and last for 11 weeks.
Much of the coursework students take in this program is scientific or technical in nature, such as the following classes.
- Design engineering and problem solving
- Engineering computation and algorithmic thinking
- Chemistry for engineering majors
- Introduction to statistics for engineers
- Structures
- Temporary construction structures
- Civil and construction engineering materials
- Strength of materials
- Statics
- Plane surveying
- Soil engineering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Geotechnics for construction
- Building construction management
- Electrical facilities
- Mechanical facilities
- Heavy civil construction management
- Highway location and design
- Introduction to virtual design and construction
- Civil and construction engineering graphics and design
- Construction safety
Other programs have more in common with business courses of study, including:
- Accounting for decision making
- Managing organizations
- Legal environment of business
- Human resources management
Students also complete specialized coursework that pertains to the business of construction and civil engineering, such as:
- Construction estimating
- Engineering economy
- Contracts and specifications
- Obtaining construction contracts
- Construction planning and scheduling
- Construction project planning
- Project management for construction
Through a unique class called “The Oregon State Engineering Student,” first-year students in the program learn about professional codes of conduct in engineering, equity in engineering teams and engineering challenges and solutions for the modern world.
6. Idaho State University
Another option for students hoping to complete a civil engineering bachelors online is the Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology program at Idaho State University.
Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID, is a public research university recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education with the “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” classification. The school also prides itself on the comprehensive range of programs of study it offers. It is one of only six universities nationwide where students can pursue an education in any level of study ranging from technical certificates through graduate, doctoral and professional degrees.
the school, which dates back to 1901, now serves 12,319 students. If you’re not able to devote enough of your time to complete your degree through traditional full-time study, you will be in good company here. More than 40% of the student population is enrolled on a part-time basis as of 2023.
The school is known for its education in the health professions. Outside of nursing and health, popular majors at Idaho State University include liberal arts and humanities, business, biology and psychology.
Of the 250 total programs of study at Idaho State University, well over 100 programs (including minors) are available online.
Studying Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology at Idaho State
Offered both on campus and online through the College of Technology, the ABET-accredited curriculum of the Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology program prepares students to work in either professional or technician-level roles in the field.
Established as a “2+2” degree, this program awards both an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology degree and the Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology degree. Major coursework for this degree program includes:
- Introductory computer-aided design
- Civil 3D drafting
- Surveying software applications
- Introductory surveying
- Intermediate surveying and spatial analysis
- Survey computations
- Surveying adjustments
- Public surveying
- Construction surveying
- Survey office practice
- Surveying project
- Advanced surveying
- Essentials of surveying
- Research and evidence in surveying
- Writing legal descriptions
- Boundary control and legal principles
- Civil and geomatics engineering technology
- Materials testing
- Unmanned aerial systems/imagery analysis
- Plan reading and worksite safety
- Public works
- Subdivision planning and platting
- Principles of cartography
- Remote sensing
- Principles of photogrammetry
- Principles of GIS
- GPS principles and applications
- Information technology for GIS
- Route survey and GPS fundamentals
- Advanced geographic information systems
The program is also somewhat math-intensive. In addition to taking a course in geodesy – the branch of mathematics concerned with the shape and area of the Earth – students should expect to complete coursework in algebra, calculus, trigonometry, statistical reasoning, physics and economics.
Although the coursework for all four levels of study required for the undergraduate degree is available online, students may need to conduct laboratory activities under the supervision of a local mentor.
If you don’t need a bachelor’s degree, you can instead pursue this course of study in the form of an academic certificate in land surveying program or a basic technical certificate in surveying program. Idaho State University also offers a standalone on-campus or online Associate of Applied Science in Civil Engineering Technology program, as well as certificate programs in civil engineering technology, that may be of interest.
7. National University
National University, located in Quantico, VA, is another option for students seeking an online civil engineering degree. The school offers 190 online programs at the bachelor’s and graduate levels. Areas of study range from arts and humanities to education, healthcare, business and engineering.
Studying Applied Engineering Online at National University
The best online option for spring civil engineers at National University is the Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. Required coursework for this program includes the following:
- Engineering economics
- Surveying, metrics and GIS
- Structural analysis
- Soil mechanics and foundation
- Construction materials and methods
- Plans and specifications
- Mechanical and electrical systems
- Design & construction process integration
- Estimating, scheduling and control
- Computer aided engineering
- Field inspection and safety
- Sustainable construction
8. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
The next option for students interested in an online civil engineering degree is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private institution located in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The total student population was 31,579 for the 2021-2022 year. Embry-Riddle offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees as well as professional certificates. The school doesn’t focus exclusively on aerospace engineering but instead offers degrees in a variety of fields related to science, technology, aviation and business.
Earning an Undergraduate Engineering Degree Online from Embry-Riddle
Embry Riddle offers a general Bachelor of Science in Engineering program online. This program is a good fit for working professionals. Required courses in this ABET-accredited 123-credit hour bachelor’s degree program include:
- Introduction to engineering
- Project management for engineered systems
- Signals and systems
- Systems controls
- Graphical communications
- Statics
- Dynamics
- Solid mechanics
- Fluid mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Engineering materials and structures
- Fundamentals of energy
- Digital circuit design
- Circuits and electronics
- Robotics and mechatronics
- Aerodynamic performance of flight vehicles
All students complete their program with the capstone design project.
9. Old Dominion University
Another option for an online civil engineering degree is Old Dominion University.
Old Dominion University is a public four-year institution in Norfolk, Virginia. The school offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as professional certificates. The institution is classifed as a doctoral university with high research activity according to Carnegie.
Majoring in Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University
Old Dominion Online offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering & Technology with a major in Civil Engineering Technology. This program equips individuals for lucrative careers in the construction business. The civil engineering technology curriculum includes course material in
- Computer-aided drafting
- Fundamentals of building construction
- Construction plan and specifications
- Structural analysis
- Strength of materials
- Materials testing
- Statics
- Fluid mechanics
- Engineering technology
- Advanced technical analysis
- Principles of surveying
- Contract documents
- Sustainable building practices
- Energy and environment
- Engineering economics
- Fundamentals of Engineering Examination review
10. Louisiana State University
Rounding out our list of schools with online civil engineering degree programs and similar programs of study is Louisiana State University, headquartered in Baton Rouge. This public four-year institution serves more than 37,000 students online and at locations across the state of Louisiana. Some of the most popular programs at LSU are in the fields of business management and education.
Studying Construction Management at Louisiana State University
LSU Online offers a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. This is a flexible program designed for working professionals and individuals with families. The curriculum is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education and consists of 123-125 credit hours.
You can earn the degree on your own time and create a schedule that meets your needs. Core coursework includes the following:
- Construction project management
- Construction materials and methods
- Construction and civil materials
- Soils in construction
- Construction surveying
- Construction equipment
- Construction plan reading
- Construction enterprise
- Construction contracting
- Construction safety
- Construction estimating
- Construction scheduling and cost control
- Structural principles and practices
- Applied structural design
- Mechanical and electrical systems
Related Resources:
What Degree Do You Need to Be a Civil Engineer?
Top 10 Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Environmental Science
