Top Civil Engineering Universities in USA

The top-ranking universities in America offering civil engineering courses are known for providing excellent education quality and hands-on practical experience. Receiving a degree from the following universities will increase your job opportunities after graduation. Here are some of the best universities in US for civil engineering -

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
3. Stanford University
4. University of Illinois
5. University of Texas

Let’s know it in detail:

1.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT is the best university when it comes to the top civil engineering universities in USA. The school offers ABET-accredited civil engineering courses to academically brilliant students. The acceptance rate at MIT is just 7% and you need a 4.2 GPA for getting admission to MIT. The department is broadly divided under two separate laboratories: the Parsons Laboratory for Environmental Science and Engineering and the Pierce Laboratory for Infrastructure Science and Engineering.

Type	Private
QS Subject Ranking 2022	1
Courses	Bachelor of Science in General Engineering, Minor in Civil Engineering, Master of Engineering (MEng), Master of Science (SM) in Civil Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Doctor of Science (ScD)
Tuition Fees/per year	Bachelor’s - USD 57,590 Master’s - USD 80,400 PhD - Funded by MIT

2.  University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UCB has consistently ranked among the top civil engineering universities in USA. The College of Engineering at UCB hosts nearly 3000 international students annually and has a 17% acceptance rate. Along with civil engineering courses, you can do a dual degree in Structural Engineering and Architecture, Transportation Engineering and City and Regional Planning and Public Policy.

Type	Public
QS Subject Ranking 2022	4
Courses	Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Tuition Fees/per year	Bachelor’s - USD 42,050 Master’s - USD 50,900 PhD - USD 34,000

3.  Stanford University

Stanford University is amongst the best civil engineering universities in USA after MIT and UCB. Out of the nine academic departments, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is known for its excellent research opportunities. The ABET-accredited Civil Engineering course will prepare you for extensive research along with engineering education.

Type	Private
QS Subject Ranking 2022	9
Courses	Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, MS in Civil Engineering, PhD in Civil Engineering
Tuition Fees/per year	Bachelor's - USD 55,473 Master’s - USD 57,861 PhD - USD 54,315

4.  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois is one of the oldest in the country and has over 1100 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The coursework includes 128 hours of study in order to earn a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Type	Public
QS Subject Ranking 2022	-
Courses	BS in Civil Engineering, MS in Civil Engineering, PhD in Civil Engineering
Tuition Fees/per year	Bachelor's - USD 45,774 Master’s - USD 39,100 PhD - USD 34,316

5.  University of Texas, Austin

The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas, Austin is one of the best public civil engineering colleges in USA. The department has more than 1200 UG and PG students. A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering requires 124 Semester Credit Hours (SCH).

Type	Public
QS Subject Ranking 2022	-
Courses	Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, MS in Construction Engineering and Project Management, MS in Geotechnical Engineering, MS in Structural Engineering
Tuition Fees/per year	Bachelor’s - USD 42,000 Master’s - USD 38,000

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Course Curriculum of Civil Engineering in USA

The course curriculum of the best civil engineering universities in USA mainly revolves around the subjects of mathematics, physics, chemistry and statistics. You need to study these topics to understand the core concepts of civil engineering.

• Introduction to Civil Engineering
• Statics and Mechanics of Solids
• Computational Methods for Civil Engineering
• Engineering Graphics and Visualization
• Civil Engineering Materials
• Structural Analysis
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Water Resources Engineering
• Systems Applications in Civil Engineering
• Civil Engineering Design
• Civil Engineering Distribution Electives
• Engineering, Science and Mathematics Electives

Eligibility & Admission Requirements For Civil Engineering in USA

If you want to study in the best colleges for civil engineering in USA, then you must fulfil all the admission requirements. We have listed down the eligibility criteria and documents required to apply for civil engineering in the US -

1. High School Transcripts
2. Bachelor’s Degree
3. English Language Proficiency Test Scores
4. GMAT/GRE Test Scores
5. USA Student Visa

Let’s discuss the eligibility and admission requirements in details:

1.  High School Transcripts

If you want to apply for a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in the US, then you must have successfully completed your 12th standard with a 3.0 GPA and more.

2.  Bachelor’s Degree

If you want to study a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering in the US, then you must hold a Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field. The minimum GPA is 3.0 that you need to maintain in your 4 years UG degree.

3.  English Language Proficiency Test Scores

International students are required to sit for English proficiency tests in order to study a civil engineering degree from the US universities. The average IELTS score accepted is 7 and the average TOEFL score accepted is 90 for most universities.

4.  GMAT/GRE Test Scores

The required score for standardised tests such as GRE and GMAT depends on the university you are applying to. The average GMAT score is 650-680 and 290-300 is the average GRE score accepted by civil engineering colleges in the US. 

5. USA Student Visa

After you get the acceptance letter, you must apply for the USA student visa to study in the American universities. Visit the nearest US embassy or consulate to apply for your student visa.

Documents Required for Civil Engineering Courses in USA

While applying for admission, you are required to submit a number of documents to qualify. Here is a list of documents that you will need while applying to the finest civil engineering universities in USA.

• Academic Transcripts
• Statement of Purpose (SOPs)
• Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
• Updated CV or resume
• GRE scores along with IELTS or TOEFL scores
• Valid Passport
• Funding Proof
• Current Photographs (passport size)

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Admission Process of Civil Engineering Universities in USA

The admission process depends on the university you are applying to. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you understand the application process for civil engineering courses in the US -

• Step 1 - Shortlist the universities you want to apply for civil engineering
• Step 2 - Browse through the official websites of the universities to understand the admission process and requirements
• Step 3 - Fill out the application form with your personal information, education qualifications, etc
• Step 4 - Submit your application with all the required documents, such as transcripts, LOR, SOP, ACT/SAT scores, TOEFL/IELTS scores.
• Step 5 - Pay the application fee and appear for the admission interview
• Step 6 - Once admitted, apply for the student visa and prepare to travel to US

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Cost of Studying Civil Engineering in USA

Studying in the US is far more expensive when compared to other countries. Thus, in order to stay and study in the country, you must plan your finances properly. The cost of studying civil engineering courses in USA is as follows: 

Tuition Fees:

Degree Type	Duration	Tuition Fees
Bachelors	4 years	20,000 USD to 42,000 USD per year
Masters	1 - 2 years	30,000 USD to 120,000 USD

Cost of Living

Apart from this, while staying in the US, you are expected to spend an additional 20,000 USD to 25,000 USD per annum on accommodation, food and transportation.

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Scholarships to Study Civil Engineering in USA

The best way to ease the financial burden of studying civil engineering courses in the US is to avail scholarships. Moreover, getting awarded with a scholarship will elevate your chances of securing a job after graduation. There are several scholarships available for civil engineering students in the US -

Scholarship Name	Applicable For	Amount Granted
Fulbright Scholarships	Masters / PhD	Fully Funded; covers tuition fees, accommodation, health insurance
Stanford University Scholarships	Masters / PhD	Fully Funded; covers tuition fees, accommodation, travel
AAUW International Fellowship Program (only for women)	Masters/ PhD / Postdoctoral	Fully Funded; covers USD 18,000 to USD 30,000 per year
ACI Foundation Scholarship	Undergraduate / Masters / PhD / Postdoctoral	Fully Funded; covers USD 10,000 to USD 15,000

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Career Opportunities After Civil Engineering in USA

The scope of civil engineering in USA is vast. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that there will be a projected job growth of 8% for civil engineers in the US by the year 2030. The job roles you can apply to after successfully completing your degree in civil engineering are as follows:

• Civil Engineer
• Construction Engineer
• Construction Project Manager
• Engineering Manager
• Field Engineer
• Geotechnical Engineer

The average salary you will receive as a civil engineering graduate is listed down below:

Degree	Salary
UG	73,000 USD per year
PG	100,000 per year
PhD	115,000 USD per year

Studying a Bachelor’s, Master’s or a Doctorate degree in Civil Engineering from the US is a great boost to your future career. As a civil engineer, you will be responsible for managing important infrastructure projects and constructing high rise buildings, dams, bridges, etc. Thus, it is a highly respected profession.

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Studying civil engineering courses from the top universities in the US will increase your chances of getting a high-paying job. Want to know how you can shortlist US universities according to your candidacy? Talk to our  Yocket Professionals and get end to end admission support and visa guidance.