MS 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 12,000-150,000 USD (9.81 lakhs-1.22 crores INR). Foreign students can avail scholarships to study MS in Civil Engineering in the USA. 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. 

MS in Civil Engineering in USA: Highlights

COVID-19 Update: The majority of the universities in the USA have waived-off the GRE requirement due to testing difficulties.

Top Universities for MS in Civil Engineering in USA

According to QS News ranking of 2023 for civil and structural engineering, the following are the top 10 universities offering MS in Civil Engineering in the USA: 

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:

• Ten universities in the USA rank among the top 50 universities offering civil engineering abroad as per QS Rankings of 2023. 
• The employment of civil engineers is anticipated to increase by 7% between 2021 and 2031
• Over the next ten years, there are expected to be, on average, 24,200 openings for civil engineers.
• The median annual pay for civil engineers went as high as 88,050 USD (72 lakhs INR) as of May 2021,.

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. 

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: 

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: 

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.

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 12,000-150,000 USD (9.81 lakhs-1.22 crores INR). 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:

Cost of Living in USA

The cost of living in the USA is higher compared to other countries. It is estimated to be approximately 15,000 USD (12.26 lakhs INR) 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. 

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: 

For information on other scholarships available for international students, click here. Specific scholarships for Indian students are also available for studying in the USA. 

Check Out: Education loan in the USA 

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 88,050 USD (72 lakhs INR) per annum after completion of the MS. 

Some of the jobs in USA for civil engineers are: 

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.

FAQs