As the world's population is continuously rising and environmental concerns are putting pressure on our global infrastructure, more and more civil engineers are required to design, plan and construct solutions for these complex challenges. Pursuing a masters in civil engineering in USA fosters you with advanced skills in mechanics, materials, project management, ethics and structure.
So, if you are the one who wants to study civil engineering in the USA, here we have curated a guide with all the essential information to get admission into the top universities for masters in civil engineering in USA along with its admission requirements, costs and many more.
Why Study Masters in Civil in the USA?
Before finalising your civil engineering degree at any university, it is very important for you to know its scope and importance in the present time. So let us begin our discussion with the benefits of studying MS in civil engineering in USA.
- Top Universities: The universities in USA are well known because of their excellent quality of education globally. Most of the US universities have been ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2023. And it is more worthwhile to say that top US universities like MIT, Stanford and UCB offering Civil Engineering have been ranked in the Top 10 QS Civil and Structural Engineering Rankings.
- Education: As a civil engineering student you also get the opportunity to study from the skilled professionals and practices under their guidance. The universities in USA also offers a variety of specialization areas in the civil engineering field from Mechanics, Structural to Hydraulics and Geotechnics which are quite popular globally.
- Scope Opportunities: According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, there will be a 8% job growth of civil engineers in between 2020 to 2030. The projected employment opportunities for civil engineering professionals in US are approximately 25,300 between this duration.
With this we can say that the scope of MS in civil engineering in USA is immense. Let's look at their course curriculum.
Suggested: Civil Engineering Courses & Universities in USA
Course Curriculum For Masters in Civil in USA
The course curriculum of civil engineering masters in USA mainly revolves around its graduate coursework and the research. Its curriculum represents a research and thesis based curriculum offering to specialise in certain technical areas. The masters in civil engineering provides highly specialised design oriented and management courses and offers the opportunity for independent research and making a significant contribution in your profession.
You need to complete a minimum of 32 credit hours in which six to eight credits are for the research and thesis to get the degree. Some of the specialisations under this program includes
- Construction Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Water, Environmental, and Coastal Systems
- Data and Systems
- Transportation Engineering
Now that we know about the course curriculum of masters in Civil engineering. Let's discuss the eligibility for MS in Civil engineering in USA.
Eligibility Criteria and Admission Requirements for Masters in Civil in USA
If you want to get into the best colleges in USA for MS in civil engineering, you need to fulfil some eligibility criteria and the admission requirements. Some of the basic MS in civil engineering in USA requirements are given below
- Bachelor's Degree
- Language Test Scores
- GRE Scores
- US Student Visa
Let's elaborately discuss these qualifications
Bachelor's Degree
You must have a four bachelor degree in civil construction management, environmental engineering or any related subject from a recognised university. A minimum grade of B or a GPA score of 3.0 to 3.5 or above is recommended for the admission.
Language Test Scores
Students who are non native English speakers, regardless of their undergraduate language of instruction, will have to submit the official scores of language tests. The minimum scores required are
GRE Scores
Not all the universities in the US require you to submit GRE scores for admission. However, if you are seeking into a top University like MIT or Stanford University you can submit the GRE scores to boost your application.
US Student Visa
The USA Student Visa is a must to study masters in civil engineering in USA for international students. Do make sure you can apply for the US Student Visa as soon as you get the acceptance letter to avoid any delay.
Documents Required for Masters in Civil in USA
To complete the application form of universities in USA for MS in Civil engineering, you are required to submit some essential documents to support the application form. These may includes
- Official Academic Transcripts
- Bachelor's Degree Certificate
- Test Scorecards
- Two letter of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Updated CV or Resume
- Work Experience Certificate (if required)
- Proof of Financial Resources
Admission Process for Masters in Civil in USA
The application of MS in Civil engineering in USA is available for the Fall, Summer and Winter intakes in the USA. You must check out the available intakes of the university before planning to apply. And try to be an early applicant as the top universities in USA for MS in Civil Engineering receive a lot of applications every year. Here is a step by step guide for the admission process
- Shortlist the best university and checkout the MS in Civil Engineering in USA requirements.
- Make an account on the university website and fill up the application. You can submit the application form only once in a university, so do complete the applications over several sessions prior to the final submission.
- Must submit your application form and most materials including the LORs, transcripts, scorecards etc electronically as a part of the application process.
- After completing your application, pay the application fees.
- Check the applications status daily until you get a conditional letter.
- If you are selected you may get an offer letter, accept it and pay the required deposit fees.
- Once you get your acceptance letter, you can apply for the student's visa by visiting any nearest embassy.
After getting all the information regarding the admission process and its requirements. Let's look at some of the best universities in USA for MS in Civil Engineering.
Top Universities in USA for Masters in Civil
The Masters Civil Engineering programs in USA combine theoretical and research with skilled faculty to provide a practical understanding of the field. If you can make it to the best universities in USA, you can expect a rigorous academic environment under skilled professionals. Although there are countless universities here, we have listed some top universities for masters in civil engineering in USA.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of California, Berkeley
- Stanford University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- University of Texas at Austin
Let's discuss each university one by one
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT is one of the top ranked universities in the world in terms of its engineering and variety of programs. Its masters degree in civil and environmental engineering is highly acclaimed across the world. The institute also offers research in wide range of areas of civil such as environmental chemistry, fluid mechanics, hydrology and hydroclimatology, materials, structures and geomechanics etc.
|
1 |
|
|
QS WUR Civil & Structural Engineering Rankings 2024 |
1 |
|
Type of University |
Private |
|
Average Annual Fees |
28,795 USD |
|
Program Offered |
MEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering |
University of California, Berkeley
The civil engineering program at UCB is a technological rigourous degree that will advance your career into a professional engineer. This will give you a deeper understanding of a specialized field to be proficient in tracking new developments. The course incorporates a wide range of subdisciplines and each of its seven programs tailors the university courses to suit the individual interests.
|
10 |
|
|
QS WUR Civil & Structural Engineering Rankings 2024 |
2 |
|
Type of University |
Public |
|
Average Annual Fees |
32,374 USD |
|
Program Offered |
MEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering |
Stanford University
The purpose of the civil engineering program of the university is to equip the students with the right knowledge and skills necessary for a professional career in the civil and environment sector. The course is organised into three far and broad areas including built environment, atmosphere and energy, and environmental engineering.
|
5 |
|
|
QS WUR Civil & Structural Engineering Rankings 2024 |
10 |
|
Type of University |
Private |
|
Average Annual Fees |
|
|
Program Offered |
MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering |
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech school of civil and environmental engineering provides a challenging graduate program encompassing an advanced study and research leading to the degree of MS in Civil Engineering. This program is integrated with an advanced study in wider areas of specialization in construction engineering, environmental, geosystems, structural, mechanics, transportation systems and water resources.
|
97 |
|
|
QS WUR Civil & Structural Engineering Rankings 2024 |
22 |
|
Type of University |
Public |
|
Average Annual Fees |
34,000 USD |
|
Program Offered |
MS in Civil Engineering |
University of Texas at Austin
The civil engineering program at the university integrates the technical skills that is gained through an engineering education with the competencies achieved through the study of business management. The course incorporates improving the reliability of projects within the complex systems. It provides groundbreaking research on constructability and the best practices of industry.
|
58 |
|
|
QS WUR Civil & Structural Engineering Rankings 2024 |
17 |
|
Type of University |
Public |
|
Average Annual Fees |
19,320 USD |
|
Program Offered |
MS in Civil Engineering |
Now these are some of the universities which you can look for. Let's take a look of the universities for MS in Civil Engineering in USA without GRE scores.
List Of Civil Engineering Universities Without GRE
If you are applying to get admission to MS in Civil Engineering in USA without GRE score, then you need not to worry much about your admission. As there are several civil engineering universities that do not require GRE tests as their mandatory documents in the applications. Here is a list of US universities for MS in civil engineering without GRE
- Iowa State University
- University of Washington
- George Mason University
- University of Minnesota
- California State University, Sacramento
- Norwich University
- Vanderbilt University
- Boise State University
- Tufts University
- Michigan Technological University
Cost of Studying Masters in Civil in USA
MS in Civil Engineering in USA cost will depend upon the university and the course you choose. Your type of lifestyle in the country also comes into consideration. The overall cost of studying civil engineering can be divided into two parts i.e. tuition fees and cost of living.
Tuition Fees
The tuition fees for Masters in Civil Engineering in the USA may vary based on the type of programs and the university you choose. On an average, the fees for this Civil engineering degree ranges from 13,890 USD to 139,080 USD.
Cost of Living
Apart from the MS in civil engineering in USA cost of universities, the next thing you have to consider is your living costs. These costs for international student in the USA will depend upon your type of living and how much you spend on other expenses such as food, transportation, healthcare, stationary, books & materials etc. On an average, you have to spend around 1,400 USD to 2,950 USD per month including the expenses.
After knowing the amount of investment required to study in the USA while staying, we shall now discuss different types of MS in civil engineering in USA scholarship to help you with the expenses.
Scholarships For Masters Civil Engineering in USA
Getting a scholarship is the best way to ease your financial burden to study your masters degree at US universities. There are various types of MS in Civil Engineering in USA scholarship you can avail for such as grants, awards, fellowships etc. Some universities also offer external scholarships for their students. Here is a list of scholarships for master's degree students in USA:
|
Scholarship Name |
Eligibility |
Benefits |
|
Fulbright Scholarship, Stanford |
International students enrolled into a academic degree programs |
Varies |
|
William Asbjornsen Albert Memorial Fellowship, MIT |
Graduate students with research in modern science and engineering |
Tuition fees |
|
Rotary Peace Fellowships, Purdue |
International with a full time degree and a commitment to the peace |
Varies |
|
MEC Scholarship, Cornell |
Students with an engineering degree and a good academic records |
Upto full tuition |
Jobs After Masters in Civil in USA
The scope of MS in civil engineering in USA is broad and so is the demand for skilled civil engineers. They are highly recognised both in public and private corporations to take up the different roles. Some of the popular job profiles after MS in civil engineering in USA graduates are
|
Job Profile |
Average Salary |
|
Civil Engineer |
69,737 USD |
|
Structural Engineer |
71,827 USD |
|
Quantity Surveyor |
65,986 USD |
|
Construction Engineer |
70,123 USD |
|
Building Control Surveyor |
55,082 USD |
|
Construction Project Manager |
76,150 USD |
So this is all about the masters in civil engineering in USA for international students. The demand and popularity of the profession attracts a lot of students every year. But with this charmness you must be prepared to surpass all the challenges that come in the way. For that, universities in USA for MS in civil engineering gives you a great opportunity to mould yourself into a skillful and excellent professional.
Want to know how to get shortlisted into the best universities mentioned above? Connect with our Yocket Professionals and get an end to end admission support and guidance.
