collageMS in Civil Engineering in USA is a STEM course that can be pursued full-time and part-time by students around the world. Anyone having an understanding of designing and building structures with a bachelor’s in civil engineering or a related field can apply for this program. A GRE score above 300 may also be required for admission to some USA universities offering masters in civil engineering. Its time period ranges between 9 months to 2 years for a full-time degree.
MS in Civil Engineering USA universities costs somewhere around 13,800 USD to 149,080 USD. For an Indian student, this is equivalent to 10.14 lakhs – 1.09 crores INR. Fees may seem a little higher but international students can avail scholarships in USA to reduce financial burden. The entry-level salary of a civil engineer in this country is approximately 47,000 USD (34.5 lakhs INR) per annum which can go up to 135,000 USD (99.2 lakhs) per year with experience.
Top Universities for MS in Civil Engineering in USA
According to QS News ranking of 2022 for civil and structural engineering, the following are the top 10 universities offering MS in Civil Engineering in the USA:
| QS Ranking 2022 | University | Program Offered & Duration | Tuition Fees (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MEng Civil and Environmental Engineering: 9 months; MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering: 2 years | 26,725; 53,450 |
| 4 | University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) | MS Civil Engineering; 1 year | 32,374 |
| 10 | Stanford University | MS Civil and Environmental Engineering; 2 years | 149,080 |
| 15 | Georgia Institute of Technology | MS Civil and Environmental Engineering; 1 year | 31,370 |
| 22 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) | MS Civil and Environmental Engineering; 1 year | 24,122 |
| 20 | University of Texas at Austin | MS Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering; 1 year | 26,782 |
| 25 | Purdue University | MS Civil Engineering: 1 year | 13,809 |
| 35 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MS Civil Engineering; 1 year | 25,163 |
| 51 – 100 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | MS Civil and Environmental Engineering; 2 years | 124,866 |
| 49 | The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | MS Civil Engineering: 1 year | 63,898 |
| 51-100 | Carnegie Mellon University | MS in Civil & Environmental Engineering: 2 years | 50,100 |
| 51-100 | Columbia University | MS in Civil Engineering & Engineering Mechanics: 1 year | 54,528 |
| 51-100 | Northwestern University | MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering | 80,080 |
| 51-100 | Cornell University | MS in Civil & Environmental Engineering: 1 to 2 years | 29,500 |
| 51-100 | Texas A&M University | MS in Civil Engineering | 40,194 |
Why Study MS in Civil Engineering in USA?
Civil engineering is one of the most quick-moving domains in the USA, where the students can nurture their skills and can explore various career paths. Following are some of the reasons for pursuing higher education in USA in this field:
- According to US News Ranking 2020, civil engineering was ranked as the 2nd best engineering job and 17th best STEM job in USA.
- Nine universities in the USA rank among the top 50 universities offering civil engineering abroad as per QS Rankings of 2021.
- There are approximately 326,800 jobs in the civil engineering domain of the USA.
- The job growth for civil engineers in this country is projected to be around 6% till 2028 creating over 20,500 vacancies.
- Federal government employees are paid the highest salary in this field ie. 95,380 USD per annum (median salary).
MS in Civil Engineering in USA: Highlights
| Duration | 9 months to 2 years |
| Degree Offered | Master of Science (MS) |
| Specializations Available | Environment, Architecture, Landscape Planning, Construction Management, etc |
| Eligibility | Bachelors in Civil Engineering with a minimum of 63% |
| Minimum GRE Requirement | 155 in verbal and quantitative, 4.0 in analytical writing |
| Average Tuition Fees | 13,800 USD to 149,080 USD |
| Average Annual Salary | Entry-level: 47,000 USD With Experience: 135,000 USD |
COVID-19 Update: The majority of the universities in the USA have waived-off the GRE requirement due to testing difficulties.
MS in Civil Engineering in USA Admissions
The admission requirements for international students are slightly different from domestic students. However, some of the general eligibility requirements and admission requirements are discussed below. The section also details the deadlines by which international applicants must send in their admission applications:
| University | Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Dec 1 |
| UC Berkeley | Dec 7 |
| Stanford University | 149,080 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Dec 1 July 15 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) | Oct 1 Feb 15 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Dec 15 Sep 1 |
| Purdue University | Apr 15 Sep 15 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Currently Open (September) |
| Caltech | Dec 15 |
| UCLA | Dec 15 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Jan 5 Sep 15 |
| Columbia University | Sep 15 |
| Northwestern University | Jan 15 |
| Cornell University | Jan 5 Oct 15 |
| Texas A&M University | Apr 15 Sep 15 |
MS in Civil Engineering in USA Eligibility
For pursuing MS in USA, international students are required to have:
- A minimum of 10+2+4 education
- Four-year bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 in bachelor’s (equivalent to Grade “B” or 83-86%)
- GRE test score
- Proof of English language proficiency
MS in Civil Engineering in USA: GRE Requirement
Submission of GRE scores has been waived-off by the majority of the universities offering Masters in Civil Engineering in the USA as students were facing difficulty in giving this test due to COVID-19. Scores below are the minimum/average requirement before the pandemic:
| University | GRE Requirement |
|---|---|
| MIT | Minimum: 155 (quantitative & verbal); Average of 2021: 156-168 (both) |
| University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) | 167 in quantitative; 156 in verbal; 3.5 in analytical writing (average) |
| Stanford University | Average: 157 – 170 (quantitative & verbal) |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Minimum: 155 (quantitative & verbal) |
| UIUC | 165 in quantitative; 155 in verbal; 4.0 in analytical writing (average) |
| University of Texas at Austin | Minimum: 155 in quantitative |
| Purdue University | 163 in quantitative; 160 in verbal (average) |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Average of Fall 2019 class: 165 in quantitative; 156 in verbal; 3.8 in analytical writing |
| Caltech | Not Required |
| University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 153 in quantitative; 150 in verbal (average) |
MS in Civil Engineering in USA: Documents Required for Admission
The application package of the international student must have the following to successfully apply to USA universities:
- Official transcripts of previous institutes
- English translation of non-English transcripts
- 2 to 3 letters of recommendation
- CV/Resume
- Statement of purpose
- Test scores for English language and other standardized tests were submitted directly submitted from the testing agency.
English Proficiency Requirement for International Students
Minimum test score requirements for admission in some of the top-ranking universities of the USA are:
| University | IELTS | TOEFL |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | 7.5 | 100 |
| UC Berkeley | 7.0 | 90 |
| Stanford University | 7.5 | 100 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 7.0 | 90 |
| UIUC | 6.5 | 80 |
| University of Texas | 6.5 | 79 |
| Purdue University | 7.0 | 90 |
| University of Michigan | 6.5 | 84 |
| Caltech | 6.5 | 80 |
| UCLA | 7.0 | 87 |
US Visa for International Students
Students should follow the below-given procedure to apply for a US student visa:
- Visit and accept the approval of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at least prior to the six to twelve months.
- Complete the visa application form and attach the current photograph.
- Pay the visa application fees
- Attend the visa interview with all the required documents.
MS in Civil Engineering in USA Costs
Cost of study for an international student can be broadly categorized into pre-departure and post-departure costs. The pre-departure cost includes the cost of various exams taken for studying in USA, application fees, airfare, visa fees, and others. The tuition fees of the university will contribute most to the post-departure cost. These are the expenses you will have to pay once you have landed in the USA. This will also include the cost of living in USA.
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Pre-Departure Costs
Tabulated below are some of the expenses you will have to pay before leaving for study abroad:
| Expense Type | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| GRE | 205 |
| TOEFL | 170 |
| Application fee | 1,200 |
| IELTS | 250 |
| Flight fare (one-way) | 700 |
| VISA Fee | 170 |
| SEVIS Fee | 200 |
Tuition Fees for MS in Civil Engineering in USA
The tuition annual fees for some of the top-ranking universities in USA offering MS civil engineering ranges between 13,800 USD to 74,540 USD. To support your education finacially, you can also apply for various loans available for international students planning their studies in USA. 
MS in Civil Engineering in USA: Fees for Indian Students
Fees of top universities Masters in Civil Engineering in USA for Indian students is tabulated below. Please note these are estimated values and may vary per the conversion rate:
| University | Annual Fees (in INR) |
|---|---|
| MIT | 19.8 lakhs |
| UC Berkeley | 24.02 lakhs |
| Stanford University | 55.3 lakhs |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 23.3 lakhs |
| UIUC | 17.9 lakhs |
| University of Texas | 19.9 lakhs |
| Purdue University | 10.2 lakhs |
| University of Michigan | 18.7 lakhs |
| Caltech | 46.3 lakhs |
| UCLA | 23.7 lakhs |
Cheaper Universities for MS in Civil Engineering in USA
Following are some of the universities offering Masters in Civil Engineering in USA:
| University | Annual Fees (in USD) |
|---|---|
| California State University | 16,248 |
| San Jose State University | 12,548 |
| San Diego State University | 9,154 |
| Oregon State University | 7,135 |
| Kansas State University | 17,850 |
Cost of Living in USA
The cost of living in the USA is higher compared to other countries. It is estimated to be approximately 10000 USD to 12000 USD per annum. The spending is varied based on the taste and preferences of the students, more specifically it is depending upon the room rent, and on the food habit. The choice of student accommodations opted while in USA is also an important factor that decides your cost of living.
| Types of expenditures | Cost in USD (Annually) |
|---|---|
| Hostels or room rent | 5000-7000 |
| Cost of food | 2500 |
| Public transport | 350-800 |
| Entertainment cost | 1000-1200 |
Scholarships for MS in Civil Engineering in USA
The inflation rate of the USA has been increased from 1.5% to 2.3% from the year 2010 to 2020. Consequently, the tuition fees of the universities have also been increased. Thus, international students look for various sources to fund their education. Some of the options are loans, scholarships, bursaries, part-time work, etc.
The following table provides a list of scholarships available for international students in the USA pursuing MS in Civil Engineering:
| Name of scholarship programs | Amount of scholarship (USD) |
|---|---|
| Anne Naureen Whitney Barrow Memorial Scholarship | $7000 |
| Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship Program | $2500 |
| Arsham Amirikian Engineering Scholarship | $2500 |
| MSPE Abrams Grant | $3000 |
For information on other scholarships available for international students, click here. Specific scholarships for Indian students are also available for studying in the USA.
Loan Application Process in the USA
The loan application process is started with the loan evaluation and loan sanction process. The students should show the letter of solvency as the ‘proof of fund’ to apply for an MS program in the USA. The disbursement process for education loan in the USA starts once the students will receive the i20 form from the university.
Once you apply for a loan, you should compare and check the interest rates provided by the banks and their processing fees. Some of the loan providing Indian banks are
- HDFC: Maximum loan amount is $26954 and the processing fee is 1.5% on the entire amount
- State Bank of India: Maximum loan amount is $40431 and the interest rate is 2% on the amount of loan borrowing)
- Axis bank
You need to apply for a loan at least three months before the visa interview. Do not forget to evaluate the loan disbursement amount and the guarantor. The loan application process will be completed after the submission of immigration records, academic and professional certificates, and legal verification certificates such as H1B, J1, and F1 VISA.
Scope of MS in Civil Engineering in USA
Most of the highest-paid civil engineers in the USA are working with the oil and gas extraction industries. On the other hand, the highest-paid positions in the USA are Houston, Texas, Hinesville, Midland, and Georgia.
The median pay scale of the civil engineers in the US is 86,640 USD per annum after completion of the MS. The maximum and minimum pay scale of the civil engineers of the USA is $112850 and $67430 respectively.
Some of the jobs in USA for civil engineers are:
| Jobs | Average Annual Pay (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Construction engineer | 68,200 |
| Structural engineer | 67,600 |
| Building control surveyor | 56,000 |
| Water resource engineer | 66,000 |
| Transportation planner | 57,000 |
| Quantity surveyor | 60,500 |
| Geotechnical engineer | 66,200 |
Apart from the above-mentioned professions, the career path of environmental engineer and construction manager are very sharp. The projected growth rate of environmental engineers and construction managers in is 8% and 11% respectively. Hence, studying MS in civil engineering in this country can give you a vast opportunity to explore your career path in a better way. In addition, the rising employment rate of the country supports the increase in the career growth rate of civil engineers correspondingly.
Top 10 Best Master’s in Civil Engineering Degrees
| RANK | SCHOOL | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
| 2 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA |
| 3 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL |
| 4 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX |
| 6 | Purdue University | Hammond, IN |
| 7 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg, VA |
| 9 | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 10 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA |
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