MS in Civil Engineering in USA

MS in Civil Engineering in USA is a STEM course. Its time period ranges between 9 months to 2 years for a full-time degree. Anyone having an understanding of designing and building structures with a bachelor's in civil engineering can apply for MS in Civil Engineering in USA. USA is home to 180+ top universities offering MS in Civil Engineering to international students.

The entry-level salary of a civil engineer in USA is approximately 64,000 USD (53 lakhs INR) per annum which can go up to 135,000 USD (1.12 crore INR) per year with experience. Some of the top employers offering high-paying jobs in USA for civil engineering graduates are AECOM, Jacobs Engineering Group, Boeing, Barton Malow Company, and U.S. Navy Civil Engineering Corps.

MS in Civil Engineering in USA: Highlights

Top Universities in USA for MS in Civil Engineering

According to QS News ranking of 2024 for civil and structural engineering, the following are the top universities in USA for MS in Civil Engineering, along with the tuition fee and application deadline:

Why Study MS in Civil Engineering in USA?

Civil engineering is one of the most quick-moving domains in 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 USA rank among the top 50 universities offering civil engineering abroad as per QS Rankings of 2024.
• The employment of civil engineers is anticipated to increase by 5% between 2022 and 2032
• Over the next ten years, there are expected to be, on average, 21,200 openings for civil engineers.
• The median annual pay for civil engineers went as high as 89,940 USD (75 lakhs INR) as of May 2022.
• International students can pursue this course without submission of GRE scores as well. Some of the top universities offering MS in Civil Engineering in USA without GRE include:
  • Iowa State University
  • Vanderbilt University
  • George Mason University
  • University of Washington
• Out of all the top universities, some of them offering the cheapest MS in Civil Engineering in USA include University of Texas at Austin and Cornell University, with tuition fees ranging from 16 to 24 lakhs INR.

MS in Civil Engineering in USA Requirements

The admission requirements for international students are slightly different from domestic students. However, some of the general eligibility requirements and admission requirements for MSc in Civil Engineering in USA 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: 165 in quantitative; 155 in verbal; 4.0 in analytical writing (average)
• Proof of English language proficiency:
  • IELTS: 6.5-7.5
  • TOEFL: 80-100

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 directly submitted from the testing agency.
• US student visa

MS in Civil Engineering in USA Costs

The tuition annual fees for some of the top-ranking universities in USA offering MS civil engineering ranges between 19,000-86,000 USD (15 lakhs-71 crores INR).

Cost of Living in USA

The cost of living in USA is higher compared to other countries. It is estimated to be approximately 2,300 USD (1.91 lakhs INR) per month. The choice of student accommodations in USA is also an important factor that decides your cost of living.

MS in Civil Engineering in USA Scholarships

The inflation rate of USA has increased from 3.2% to 8.3% from the year 2011 to 2022. Consequently, the tuition fees of the universities have also seen a rise. 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 USA pursuing MS in Civil Engineering:

• MIT Presidential Graduate Fellowship Award: Tuition coverage and monthly stipend
• Anne Naureen Whitney Barrow Memorial Scholarship: 9,000 USD
• Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship Program: 2,500 USD
• Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship Program: 2,500 USD

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

Scope of MS in Civil Engineering in USA

Most of the highest-paid civil engineers in 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 civil engineers in US is 89,940 USD (74 lakhs INR) per annum after completion of the MS.

Some of the jobs in USA for civil engineers are:

The projected growth rate of environmental engineers and construction managers is 6% and 5% respectively. Hence, studying MS in civil engineering in USA 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.