Program at a glance
How much does it cost?
Learn more about how to afford a degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.
How long does it take?
This 126 credit program is designed to be completed in four years.
What will I learn in a civil engineering degree program?
Our program teaches students to make engineering and design decisions while considering a broad range of factors such as sustainability, aesthetic values, and environmental, economic, legal and technical limitations.
Graduates are trained to be problem solvers who will develop novel solutions to meet the complex challenges of urban development, pollution minimization, and improving an aging transportation network.
Undergraduate research
Undergraduate civil engineering students have the opportunity to participate in research projects with world-renowned faculty. Student research is critical to advances in pavement sciences, earthquake engineering, water treatment and reuse, and transportation engineering research.
What do civil engineers earn?
The median starting salary for civil engineers is $65,000.
Senior capstone project
In the College of Engineering, hands-on learning starts on day one. The first engineering class, Engineering 100, will challenge you to work in teams to design a hovercraft capable of traversing across a pre-set course. And in your final class before you graduate, you will work in a team to develop a product that’s ready for the marketplace. Your senior capstone project will be presented to potential employers at the annual Innovation Day. In between, you’ll gain hands-on experience in classrooms and research laboratories, putting your science and mathematical knowledge to work solving engineering problems.
Learn more about the civil and environmental engineering department
For over 120 years, our research programs and institutes have helped Nevada design safe and sustainable communities.
Specializations in the civil engineering program
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering can specialize in earthquake and structural engineering, which involves the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads, such as bridges or buildings.
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering can specialize in environmental engineering, which uses science and engineering principles to improve the environment, with a special focus on advanced water treatment processes and technologies to expand water reuse in water-scarce regions.
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering can specialize in geotechnical engineering, which is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials such as soils, foundations and earth structures like tunnels, dams or levees.
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering can specialize in pavement engineering and science, which focuses on sustainability of pavement systems and advancing state-of-the-art design, construction, maintenance, and evaluation methods.
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering can specialize in transportation engineering, which involves all aspects of planning, functional design, operation and facilities management for any mode of transportation.
Students may also pursue a minor in environmental engineering.
Developed in conjunction with industry leaders, the construction management minor is designed to equip students with the skills needed to plan, direct, and coordinate construction activities. Because we work closely with construction companies, our curriculum remains aligned with the industry and students can obtain internships with local companies.
The accelerated B.S./M.S. program encourages outstanding students in the College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno to obtain a M.S. degree in a shorter amount of time.
The College of Engineering, in partnership with the College of Business, offers a five-year program to earn both the Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Master of Business Administration degrees.
The College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno offers both an M.S. and Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering.
Take the next step
Careers with a degree in civil engineering
Median starting salaries of $61,314
A civil engineering degree can lead to a wide range of career paths. Civil engineers may find employment in supervisory and administrative positions, ranging from supervisor of a construction site to city engineer to an executive role.
A civil engineering degree prepares you to work in teams with other engineers and scientists in a range of settings, such as the following:
- Private industry
- Engineering consulting firms
- Federal, state, county and city governments
- Public utilities and educational institutions
Many of our department's past graduates work with or have their own consulting firms and often hire graduates from the department. Civil engineering majors had a median starting salary of $61,314, according to a 2022 report by the National Association of Colleges & Employers.
You can afford the University of Nevada, Reno
76% of students receive financial aid
Almost everyone is eligible to receive some kind of aid. We offer need-based and merit-based forms of financial aid to help you afford college.
54% of all students graduate with no debt
That's right. More than half of our students leave the University of Nevada, Reno with no student debt.
Related programs
Life's a journey. Honors makes it meaningful.
At the University of Nevada, Reno Honors College, our students maximize their unique gifts and passions through a series of personalized experiences that deepen their capacity for transformative societal impact.
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