Students worldwide can pursue a full-time or part-time MS in Civil Engineering in the USA. Anyone with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related field who has experience designing and constructing structures is eligible to apply for this program.
Some American universities that offer Master's degrees in civil engineering may also require a GRE score of at least 300. For a full-time degree, the time frame is between 9 months and two years.
The cost of an MS in civil engineering at a US university ranges from 13,800 USD to 149,080 USD, or 10,14 lakhs to 1.09 crores INR. Scholarships are available for international students to study MS in Civil Engineering in the USA.
In this nation, a civil engineer's base pay is roughly 47,000 USD (34.5 lakhs INR) per year, and with experience, that salary can rise to 135,000 USD (99.2 lakhs) per year.
Highlights: MS in civil engineering in the USA
- In the USA, 244 prestigious schools provide the course at the highest level.
- There will be around 88,000 employment opportunities.
- The average yearly wage was USD 83,438, which is an excellent salary.
- There is an ongoing need for qualified graduates, particularly in the USA.
- Respected consideration for employing talented American graduates to fill needs worldwide
- STEM-based education ensures creative and effective learning
- One year is all that is needed to complete the course.
- a post-study employment visa for three years
- During the course, part-time employment on campus was permitted for 20 hours per week.
- Outstanding instruction for only 20 lakhs in tuition
- Available during the term are teaching, research, and graduate assistantships.
Why Should I Study MS Civil Engineering in the USA?
In the USA, one of the fields with the fastest pace is civil engineering, where students may develop their abilities and explore various employment options. The motives for obtaining higher education in this profession in the USA include the ones listed below:
- Civil engineering is the second-best engineering career and the 17th-best STEM profession in the USA by US News Ranking 2020.
- According to the QS Rankings for 2021, nine American universities are among the top 50 institutions worldwide that provide civil engineering.
- In the USA, there are about 326,800 employees in civil engineering.
- Over 20,500 positions will be open for civil engineers in this country by the year 2028.
- The highest compensation in this sector is awarded to federal government personnel; it is 95,380 USD annually (median salary).
Best Universities in the USA for MS in Civil Engineering
The top 10 colleges in the USA that provide an MS in civil engineering are shown below, according to QS News' rating for civil and structural engineering in 2022:
| 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 |
Admissions for an MS in Civil Engineering in the USA
International students must meet somewhat different entrance standards than domestic students.
However, some of the standard prerequisites for qualifying and admission are covered here. The section also provides information on the due dates for receiving admissions applications from overseas applicants:
| University | Deadlines |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Dec 1 |
| UC Berkeley | Dec 7 |
| Stanford University | - |
| 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 |
Eligibility for an MS in Civil Engineering in the USA
International students must possess the following to pursue an MS in the United States:
- at least 10+2+4 years of schooling
- civil engineering or a similar subject bachelor's degree with four years of study
- Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 (equal to a grade of "B" or 83–86%)
- GRE test result
- proof of your ability to speak English
GRE requirements for MS in Civil Engineering in the USA
Most American colleges that offer a master's degree in civil engineering have removed the requirement that applicants submit their GRE results since COVID-19 made it impossible for students to take the test. The minimum/average score before the epidemic is shown by the scores below:
| 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 the USA: Admission Documents
An international student's application package has to include the items listed below:
- official copies of your college transcripts
- Non-English transcripts are translated into English
- two or three letters of endorsement
- CV/Resume
- purpose statement
- The testing organization provided the test results for the English language and other standardized assessments.
Language Requirement for International Students in English
Some of the top-ranked institutions in the US have the following minimum test score requirements:
| University | IELTS | TOEFL |
| MIT | 7.5 | 100 |
| UC Berkeley | 7.0 | 90 |
| Stanford University | 7.5 | 100 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 7.5 | 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 |
United States Student Visa
The steps listed below should be followed by students seeking a student visa for the United States:
- At least six to twelve months in advance, visit and receive the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) approval.
- Fill out the form for a visa and include a recent photo.
- Pay the application expenses for a visa.
- Bring all necessary paperwork with you to the visa interview.
MS in Civil Engineering Costs in the United States
The cost of education for an overseas student may be divided into pre-departure and post-departure expenditures. The cost of several tests taken for studying in the United States, application fees, travel, visa fees, and other expenses are a percentage of the pre-departure price.
The majority of the post-departure expenses will come from the university's tuition fees. These are the costs you will incur after you arrive in the United States. The cost of living in the US will also be included in this.
Pre-Departure Cost
The following is a list of some of the expenses you will incur before studying abroad:
| Expense Type | Cost (USD) |
| GRE | 205 |
| TOEFL | 1700 |
| Application fee | 1200 |
| IELTS | 250 |
| Flight fare (one-way) | 700 |
| VISA Fee | 170 |
| SEVIS Fee | 200 |
The Cost of Living in the United States
The cost of living in the United States is higher than in other nations. It is anticipated to range from $10,000 to $12,000 USD annually.
The cost varies depending on the likes and preferences of the students as well as the cost of the accommodation and eating habits. Your choice of student accommodation while studying abroad in the US will greatly affect 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 the United States
The MS in Civil Engineering in USA scholarships provided to deserving students assist them in lowering or eliminating their tuition payments. The many colleges involved in granting such scholarships entitle students to them only after doing a thorough background check and reviewing their biographies.
Before awarding scholarships, institutions review the students' letters of reference, academic qualifications, statement of purpose, and experience.
These scholarships are incredibly beneficial to students since they might obtain funding after being nominated by academic departments and even some of the most prestigious fellowship committees.
The table below is a list of scholarships available to international students in the United States pursuing an 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 |
Loan Application Procedure in the United States
The loan application procedure begins with loan review and loan sanctioning. To apply for an MS program in the United States, students must present a letter of solvency as "proof of funds." When students obtain the i20 form from the institution, the disbursement process for education loans in the United States begins.
When applying for a loan, examine and contrast the interest rates and processing costs offered by banks. Some of the Indian banks that provide loans include
- HDFC: The maximum loan amount is $26954, with a processing charge of 1.5 percent of the total amount.
- State Bank of India: The maximum loan amount is $40431 with a 2% interest rate on the amount borrowed)
- Axis Bank: You must apply for a loan three months before your visa interview. Remember to consider the loan payout amount as well as the guarantor. The loan application procedure will be finished following the submission of immigration documents, academic and professional certifications, and legal verification certificates such as H1B, J1, and F1 VISA.
MS in Civil Engineering in the USA: Job Prospects
Civil engineering is a highly organized profession that studies the notion of planning, building, and maintaining infrastructure tasks and systems. This field comprises many fields that broaden the scope of Civil Engineering in the United States.
Individuals who pursue a degree in this discipline receive the necessary training and expertise to work in the construction sector. They even develop the abilities needed to manage finance and the company. Students work in dynamic learning environments where they develop and plan to make large tasks come to life.
Civil engineering programs in the United States also include industrial assignments that allow students to obtain hands-on experience. Because of the practical character of this topic, which requires a large amount of assignment work, the field is exceptionally gratifying.
For students finishing their Master's in Civil Engineering, job chances in the United States and other regions of the world are relatively strong. Students with a Master's degree in Civil Engineering have various job options.
Some students may pursue degree specialties that lead to particular occupations, but others may opt to work in related subjects such as urban planning. Other job possibilities may need further training and education.
Civil engineers can work in both the commercial and governmental sectors. A Master's degree in Civil Engineering is required for several firms' senior and even leadership roles. Civil engineers must be licensed, with licensing criteria ranging from state to state.
In the United States, the median yearly pay after completing an MS in Civil Engineering is around $83,438. In the United States, the typical wage for a year after earning an MS in Civil Engineering might range from $70,000 to $100,000.
The standard MS in Civil Engineering pay in the United States provides workers in this industry with the opportunity to advance their careers and reach new heights.
Conclusion
The United States is an excellent location for pursuing a master's degree in civil engineering. It provides several professional options. The country possesses a wide range of knowledge on the issue. There are several outstanding universities where one can enroll.
Students can also apply for financial aid to help fund their education and pursue their degrees full-time or part-time. So, if you want to study civil engineering overseas, the United States is the most fantastic choice!
