Our Community

World-class reputation, Midwestern warmth

Since its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been a leader in developing learning experiences that transform students, and producing innovative research that impacts the world. CEE at Illinois is widely known as being a warm and welcoming place for students, faculty and visitors to learn, study and conduct leading research in civil and environmental engineering. 

Learn about Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois straddles the twin towns of Urbana and Champaign, located in central Illinois. These two communities, combined with the vibrant campus district, offer a wide variety of restaurants, music venues, cultural and social experiences and outdoor recreation opportunities. 

See More About Urbana-Champaign

Student Organizations

Student orgs  are a great way to learn networking and leadership skills, get involved with campus and the community, and make new friends. There are groups specific to CEE, but also many in other areas of interest. Explore them online or visit booths during Quad Day (the day before Fall classes start). 

Explore CEE Student Organizations

Collaboration and Networking

One of the things that makes CEE at Illinois special is the collaborative environment and the multitude of opportunities for networking. Students frequently work together on group classroom projects and in CEE student organizations, and collaborate with faculty on research through the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. CEE alumni and industry professionals are actively engaged with the department and frequently come to campus to lead seminars and recruit at career fairs, host student groups on job sites and network with students at events. From day one on campus, CEE students are provided with every opportunity to create connections that will further their academic and professional goals.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Our entire community benefits when individuals from different personal, cultural and disciplinary perspectives are working together. Increasing the diversity of our faculty and students is fundamental to The Grainger College of Engineering's mission, and is a department priority.  

Learn About Diversity at Grainger

Mental Health, Wellness, Access

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign strives to provide supportive, judgment-free and collaborative solutions for individuals and groups. Find out how to get connected to services for mental health, wellness, access and accommodation.

Wellness Center

History of Excellence

Illinois engineers have worked on numerous infrastructure landmarks over the past 150+ years: the Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the New York subway, the interstate highways, and drinking water and waste treatment systems in communities across the nation. Illini engineers continue to find solutions to society's biggest challenges —in the United States and throughout the world.

Our Legacy

Plan Your Visit

One of the best ways to decide if you belong at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is to explore campus. Grainger Engineering offers in-person and virtual visit experiences. 

See Grainger visit options

Take a photo tour of CEE

Ready to apply?

Become part of a tradition of excellence: of groundbreaking research, historic firsts and future promise.

Questions?

Undergraduate Admissions

Becky Stillwell, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs: rborden@illinois.edu

Graduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions team: civil@illinois.edu 

Photo Tour of
Civil and Environmental Engineering

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Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, Yeh Center. One of two main entrances to the building.

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Students studying in the Yeh Center.

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Students in CEE195 About Civil Engineering and CEE495 Field Methods in Water Resources help dye the Boneyard Creek orange to study methods of measuring pollutants in streams.

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A student prepares a hot-mix asphalt specimen with a gyratory compactor for further testing at the Advanced Transportation Research and Engineering Laboratory (ATREL), where technologies for airport, highway and rail systems are developed. 

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The Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory offers more than 11,000 square feet of instructional and experimental space.

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CEE facilities are second to none, allowing students unparalleled educational and research experiences.

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Some of the concrete canoes from CEE's past hang on the wall in the crane bay of Newmark Lab.

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Two members of the 2020-2021 Concrete Canoe paddle team practice their rowing skills.

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Senator Duckworth, right, listens to UI graduate student Tom Roadcap explain how stresses around the bolt-holes at rail joints can lead to cracking during a visit to the Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL).

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The new CEE Building - which is home to several classrooms, faculty and graduate student offices, and laboratories - opened in Fall 2021. 

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The interior of the Kavita and Lalit Bahl Smart Bridge has several tables and seating areas, making it a popular spot for students to spend time between classes. The pedestrian bridge connects the third floors of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Building and the Newmark Civil Engineering Lab (Yeh Center).

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When not in the field, the CEE 458 Field Methods in Water Resources class meets in the water quality laboratory in the CEE building.

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Students and faculty conduct research in the environmental engineering and science laboratories located on the fourth floor of the Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory.

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