There is no single best online civil engineering degree for every student. The right choice depends on whether you need a traditional civil engineering bachelor’s degree or a civil engineering technology degree, where you plan to work, how many credits you can transfer, and what you can afford. Two options to investigate for an ABET-accredited B.S. in Civil Engineering are the University of North Dakota and Liberty University; Old Dominion University is a related option in civil engineering technology, not the same credential.
The original title’s “2022” is outdated: the comparison figures discussed here are from 2026, and university details can change. Treat the schools as starting points, then confirm the program, delivery requirements, cost and state-specific licensure implications directly before enrolling.
What “best online civil engineering degree” should mean
A useful comparison starts with the exact credential, not a school’s rank or the word “online.” A bachelor’s in civil engineering and a bachelor’s in civil engineering technology are related but distinct programs. They may differ in curriculum and accreditation category, so verify the degree name and the program’s current status before comparing schools.
ABET says programs are evaluated against the same criteria regardless of whether instruction is on campus, online or blended. Its online listing describes programs that were evaluated as 100% online at their most recent review; online delivery is not a uniform guarantee that every course or activity can be completed remotely. Ask each school about labs, exams, fieldwork, campus visits and scheduled class sessions.
#1 Best Overall
Online civil engineering degree options to investigate
| School | Degree identified | Accreditation reported | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Dakota (UND) | B.S. in Civil Engineering | UND says the program is accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). UND says its next scheduled accreditation visit is in 2027. | Online course sequence and any required attendance, current total cost, transfer-credit evaluation and state authorization. |
| Liberty University | Online B.S. in Civil Engineering | Liberty says the program is accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission under general and civil or similarly named program criteria. | Current accreditation listing, total costs, transfer policy, course availability and state access. |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) | B.S. in Engineering Technology – Civil Engineering Technology, as listed by OnlineU | OnlineU reports Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) accreditation. | Whether the technology degree aligns with your career and licensure goals, plus current program delivery, cost and transfer rules. |
UND’s and Liberty’s published descriptions identify EAC-accredited civil engineering programs. ODU is worth considering if civil engineering technology suits your goals, but its degree title and reported ETAC accreditation are not interchangeable with an EAC-accredited B.S. in Civil Engineering. Accreditation and program details can change; check the live ABET record and school pages before making a decision.
How accreditation relates to engineering licensure
EAC and ETAC are ABET accreditation commissions for different kinds of programs. EAC accreditation applies to engineering programs; ETAC accreditation applies to engineering technology programs. Neither label, on its own, guarantees that a graduate can obtain a professional engineering (PE) license. Education is only one part of the licensing path, and rules vary by state.
Rank #2
Before committing, contact the licensing board in the state where you expect to work and ask how it treats the specific degree and accreditation category. ABET’s civil-engineering search offers filters for U.S. bachelor’s programs and 100% online availability. Its displayed count of 329 institutions under selected criteria is not a count of online civil engineering degrees.
What the 2026 comparison figures do—and do not—show
OnlineU’s comparison, dated August 21, 2026, reports student review ratings and annual tuition estimates for the three schools. These are OnlineU figures, not official university total-program prices or a like-for-like lifetime-cost comparison.
| School | OnlineU student review rating | OnlineU annual tuition estimate |
|---|---|---|
| ODU | 4.17/5 | $8,040 |
| UND | 3.94/5 | $12,239 |
| Liberty University | 3.68/5 | $11,700 |
The figures are reported by OnlineU in its 2026 comparison. They do not establish your total cost, what you will pay after transfer credits and fees, or how much time you will need to graduate. OnlineU’s rankings and review information are also publisher-specific, so use them as context rather than as a substitute for checking the program that fits you.
How to compare programs before you apply
- Confirm the credential and accreditation. Get the exact degree title and verify the program’s current ABET commission and status. Do not infer either from a school-wide accreditation claim or a search-result label.
- Map the actual online experience. Ask which courses are asynchronous, which require scheduled attendance, and whether labs, exams, fieldwork or campus visits must happen in person. Ask how often those requirements occur and where they take place.
- Request a personalized cost estimate. Ask the school for tuition, mandatory fees and other required costs through graduation, based on your residency, enrollment pace and transfer evaluation. Compare the resulting totals, not annual estimates from different publishers.
- Get transfer credits assessed in writing. Ask which previous courses will count toward degree requirements, how many credits remain and whether accepted credits affect your expected graduation date.
- Check state authorization and licensing implications. Confirm the school can enroll students in your state, then ask your state licensing board how it evaluates the degree and accreditation category for the path you want to pursue.
- Assess completion support. Ask about advising for online engineering students, access to instructors and lab resources, course availability each term, and the expected time to complete your remaining requirements.
Choosing among UND, Liberty and ODU
If your goal is a civil engineering bachelor’s degree, begin by comparing UND and Liberty’s EAC-accredited B.S. programs against your state’s requirements, your transfer-credit review, delivery needs and personalized total cost. The information available here does not establish which one is cheaper overall, easier to complete online or better for licensure in a particular state.
If you are open to an engineering technology credential, investigate ODU separately. Its reported ETAC-accredited civil engineering technology degree may be relevant to your aims, but confirm how the curriculum and credential fit the work you want to do and the licensing rules where you intend to practice.
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