GENERAL

MS in Civil Engineering in USA: Fees , Top Colleges, Admissions, Placements & Salaries

AG
Anjali Gupta • 11 Mins read • 8 Aug 25
MS in Civil Engineering in USAMS in Civil Engineering in USA

Master of Science in Civil Engineering in USA offers various specializations, such as Design Engineer, Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Construction Engineer, and many others. The duration of Civil Engineering Masters in USA, a full-time postgraduate programme, is 1.5-2 years. The Best Civil Engineering Universities in the USA accept entrance tests for admission, which include PTE, TOEFL, GRE, IELTS. IT Security Consultant, Software Architect, Web Developer, System Analyst, Front-end Developer, etc are the various job opportunities available after the programme.

The scholarships for Masters in Civil Engineering USA available for the applicants to help them with the tuition fees are Anne Naureen Whitney Barrow Memorial Scholarship, Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship, Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship, MIT Presidential Graduate Fellowship Award, etc. Approximately USD 14,000 to USD 1,50,000, that is around ₹ 12,29,000 to ₹ 1,31,69,000 in INR, is the average tuition fee of Masters in Civil Engineering in USA. 

The salary of the applicants with no experience, that is, after the completion of MSc in Civil Engineering in USA is around USD 48,000, that is ₹ 42,15,000, and the experienced applicants get around USD 1,36,000, that is ₹ 1,19,40,000. WSP Global, Robert Half, Bechtel, Jacobs, Randstad, AECOM etc. are the recruiting companies that hire the applicants.  The world's Top Universities for Civil Engineering in the USA are Columbia University, Northwestern University, California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, and many others.


Quick Highlights of MS in Civil Engineering in USA

The highlights of the table include the average programme fees, eligibility criteria, career opportunities, course level, top-rated universities, top recruiters, and many others.

Particular 

Details

Course level

Postgraduate

Full form of MS in Civil Engineering

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Exam requirement

PTE/IELTS/GRE/TOEFL

Eligibility

Minimum GPA with a Computer Science or related field degree in a bachelor’s program.

Course duration 

1.5 - 2 years

Average tuition fees

₹ 12,29,000 - ₹ 1,31,69,000

Highest salary of the programme

₹ 1,19,40,000

Average salary

₹ 42,15,000

Application level

Online

Top recruiter

  • Aerotek
  • AECOM
  • Randstad
  • Jacobs Engineering Group
  • Robert Half
  • WSP USA
  • Bechtel

Top specialization of the course

  • Project Manager
  • Civil Engineer
  • Structural Engineer
  • Geotechnical Engineer
  • Construction Engineer
  • Engineering Manager
  • Design Engineer

Top universities

  • Northwestern University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Princeton University
  • Cornell University
  • Columbia University
  • Georgia Institute of Technology


 MS in Civil Engineering in USA: Important Upcoming Events with Dates

Civil Engineering Masters USA accepts some exams to take admission in the top universities of the USA, that is IELTS exam, TOEFL exam, PTE, GRE exam. These tests are already conducted every month, and applicants can check the upcoming dates of 2025, which are mentioned in the table below.

Events

Dates

TOEFL Examination dates 2025 (August & September)

August 2nd to September 30th, 2025

IELTS Exam dates 2025 (August & September)

August 1st to September 30th, 2025

IELTS Exam dates 2025 (October and November)

October 1st - November 30th, 2025

PTE Exam dates 2025

Between July - October, 2025

GRE Exam dates 2025 (September)

September 8th - September 21st, 2025

GRE Exam dates 2025 (October)

October 13th - October 26th, 2025

IELTS exam date 2025 (December)

December 1st - December 31st, 2025


Application Deadlines of Top Universities for MS in Civil Engineering in the USA

The USA has the top Civil Engineering Universities in the World, and the application deadline of each university is mentioned in the table with different dates. The deadline for the application to the top university for the MS in USA for Civil Engineering, that is Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is between September 15 - December 1, 2025. 

University

Application deadline

Johns Hopkins University

1 November, 2025

University of California, Los Angeles

15 December, 2025

Princeton University

25 December, 2025

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

15 September - 1 December, 2025

Georgia Institute of Technology

1 August, 2025

Princeton University

25 December, 2025

University of Texas, Austin

1 September, 2025

Columbia University

15 November, 2025


Why Choose MS in Civil Engineering in the USA?

The demand for the graduate Masters in Civil Engineering in USA is high because the country offers 9 best-ranked universities of a total of 20 universities, such as Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, etc. Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been ranked number 1 in QS World Rankings 2025. In 2020, a career in civil engineering was considered the second-best career in the country.


Benefits of choosing an MS in Civil Engineering in USA

  • In the USA, the job opportunities for the programme Civil Engineering are expected to grow by 5%, and every year, more than 22,900 job openings are released.
  • After completing MS Courses in USA for Civil Engineering, applicants with less experience can earn a professional engineering license.
  • In the civil engineering sector in the USA, more than 3,27,000 places are available for applicants.
  • The employees of this sector earn the highest salary in comparison to other job roles or countries, that is ₹ 1,19,40,000.

Also Read :

Other Popular Countries for Studying Masters in Civil Engineering





Masters in Civil Engineering in Australia

Masters in Civil Engineering in Canada

Masters in Civil Engineering in Germany

Masters in Civil Engineering in UK


Fees of MS in Civil Engineering in USA

Fees for MS Courses in USA for Civil Engineering at each university are different and discussed in the table below. MS in Civil Engineering USA average fees range around USD 14,000 to USD 1,50,000, that is ₹ 12,29,000 to ₹ 1,31,69,000 INR. 

University

Fees in USD

Fees in INR

Cornell University

USD 30,000

₹ 26,34,000

Northwestern University

USD 86,500

₹ 76,00,000

University of California, Berkeley

USD 33,000

₹ 29,00,000

Princeton University

USD 63,000

₹ 55,35,000

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

USD 60,000

₹ 52,71,000

Johns Hopkins University

USD 63,000

₹ 55,35,000

Columbia University

USD 60,000

₹ 52,71,000

Purdue University

USD 37,500

₹ 33,00,000

Georgia Institute of Technology

USD 36,500

₹ 32,04,500


Cost of Living in the USA

The different categories of expenses of cost of living in the USA are discussed in the table below. The living cost per month in the USA goes up to USD 2500 approximately, that is ₹ 2,00,000, in which food cost is around USD 350,  transportation is USD 80, and many others.

Expense categories

Expenses in USD

Expenses in INR

Mobile & Internet

USD 130

₹ 11,500

Accommodation

USD 1600

₹ 1,40,500

Transportation

USD 80

₹ 7,050

Mess

USD 350

₹ 30,800

Other Miscellaneous 

USD 160

₹ 14,050


Qualifications for MS in Civil Engineering in USA

The qualification of MS in Civil Engineering in USA with details is discussed in the table below. The applicants should have a Civil Engineering degree or a related degree in bachelor’s with a 3.0 GPA score.

Particulars

Details

Academic qualification

A civil engineering degree in a bachelor's or related field.

English test requirement

The IELTS, TOEFL, GRE are mandatory.


Eligibility Criteria for MS in Civil Engineering in USA

The eligibility requirements for a Civil Engineering Masters in USA include many factors, such as GPA score, acceptance of IELTS, TOEFL score, SOPs, etc., are mentioned in the table below. The TOEFL score should be between 90 -100, with a score of 6.0-7.0 in IELTS. 

Particular

Details

Educational requirement

A degree in Civil Engineering in an undergraduate or related field.

GPA

3.0 score in GPA out of 4.0.

GRE

  • Verbal: 155
  • Quantitative: 165
  • Analytical writing: 4.0

TOEFL

Between 90-100 score.

SOP

SOP with all the necessary details.

LOR

2 to 3 LORs.

IELTS

6.0-7.0 score in IELTS.


Application Process for MS in Civil Engineering in USA

The application process for MS in Civil Engineering in USA should be known by applicants who wish to study in the USA. The process starts with checking the universities offering the course and preparing all the important documents to submit. Each step is important and should be done carefully by the applicants.

Step 1: Check the eligibility requirements and the application deadline of the universities offering the Master's in Civil Engineering in the USA, and choose according to your choice.

Step 2: Be prepared with all the important documents necessary for the process, such as LOR, SOP, Resume, educational transcript, etc.

Step 3: Pay the application fee of the selected university after filling out the application form with all the details.

Step 4: The applicants could be called for an interview by the university, as some universities conduct an interview for the selection.

Step 5: After the interview process, wait for the result, and if selected, start preparing for the student visa.


Documents required during the application process for MS in Civil Engineering in USA

A few documents are required to submit during the application process for MS in Civil Engineering in USA. The list is discussed below, and be prepared with these documents before the process begins.

  • Letters of Recommendations (2 LOR)
  • Resume/CV
  • Certificate of Bachelor's Degree
  • Statement of Purpose
  • IELTS score
  • GRE Score (if required)
  • TOEFL score
  • Academic transcript


University-Wise Admission Process in MS in Civil Engineering in USA

Many universities in the USA offer Masters in Civil Engineering that are mentioned in the table below, with the admission process required. The applicants can check the admission requirements of their preferred university below.

University

Admission process

Columbia University

3 LOR/an undergraduate degree/Resume/99-124 score in TOEFL/6.5 in IELTS/academic transcript.

Georgia Institute of Technology

75% in an undergraduate degree in civil engineering/GRE/2.7 GPA/academic transcript/7-7.5 score in IELTS/90-100 TOEFL score.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Resume/GRE score/90-100 TOEFL/IELTS with 7-7.5/an undergraduate degree/SOP.

Northeastern University

Academic transcript/an undergraduate degree with four years/3.0 GPA/6.5-7.5 IELTS score/79-100 in TOEFL.

Stanford University

3 LOR/ Academic Transcript/ Resume/ 3.0 score in GPA/ four-year undergraduate degree/89-110 in TOEFL/SOP.

The University of Texas at Austin

GRE score/ 3.0 score in GPA with an undergraduate degree/ SOP/Resume/LOR/79-113 in TOEFL/IELTS score with 6.5.

Arizona State University

1 LOR/academic transcript/6.5-7.5 score of IELTS/3.5 score in GPA/undergraduate degree in the same field.


MS in Civil Engineering in USA Entrance Exams

The entrance exam for MS in Civil Engineering is compulsory for admission in the top-rated universities of USA. The exams including IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, GRE, etc., are mentioned in the below table. The applicants can check the exam details which are allowed by the universities of the USA.

Exam

Details

GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)

Some of the universities may require the GRE score.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language

90-100

IELTS (The International English Language Testing System)

6.0-7.0


MS in Civil Engineering in USA Scholarships

Scholarships for MS in Civil Engineering in USA are provided by the top-rated universities of the USA, which help the applicants with the tuition fees, which are costly, are mentioned in the box below. The scholarships with the eligibility requirement and benefits are available, the applicants can check the following.

Scholarship

Benefit

Eligibility

MIT Presidential Graduate Fellowship Award

USD 2500

Only students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a completed degree in a bachelor’s program.

Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship

USD 2500

An undergraduate degree is required.

Anne Naureen Whitney Barrow Memorial Scholarship

USD 7000

Only applicable for women applicants with a 3.0 GPA score.


Cutoff for MS in Civil Engineering in USA

The cutoff for MS in Civil Engineering in USA is generally the score of IELTS and TOEFL accepted by the universities of the USA. The best universities of USA offering civil Engineering in Masters have different IELTS and TOEFL scores. 

University

Cutoff

Johns Hopkins University

  • TOEFL: 250
  • IELTS: 7.0

Purdue University

  • TOEFL:90
  • IELTS: 7.0

University of California, Berkeley

  • TOEFL: 90
  • IELTS: 7.0

Cornell University

  • TOEFL: 100
  • IELTS: 7.0

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • TOEFL: 100
  • IELTS: 7.5

Georgia Institute of Technology

  • TOEFL: 90
  • IELTS: 7.0

Princeton University

  • TOEFL: 112
  • IELTS: 8.0

Columbia University

  • TOEFL: 100
  • IELTS: 7.5

Northwestern University

  • TOEFL: 85
  • IELTS: 7.0


MS in Civil Engineering in USA: Best Universities

The world’s top universities for Civil Engineering in the USA are the University of Louisville, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Central Florida, and many others.

University

QS World Ranking 2025

University of Texas, Austin

68

Cornell University

16

Princeton University

22

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

1

Johns Hopkins University

32

Columbia University

34

University of California, Los Angeles

42

Georgia Institute of Technology

114


MS in Civil Engineering in USA Vs India

The applicants can check the comparison between the Masters in Civil Engineering in USA and India, which is explained below. The cost of living in the USA is higher than in India, but the salary and job role it offers are much better than in India. 


Particulars

USA

India

Cost of living

USD 2500

₹ 10,000 - ₹ 25,000

Average salary

₹ 42,15,000

₹ 3,00,000 - ₹ 10,00,000

Universities

Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Cornell University, Columbia University

NIT Rourkela, Delhi Technological University, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, NIT Karnataka

Programme fees

₹ 12,29,000 - ₹ 1,31,69,000

₹ 25,000 - ₹ 3,00,000

Duration

1.5 - 2 years

2 years

Career opportunities

Project Manager, Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Construction Engineer

Project Management, Geotechnical Engineer, Site Engineer, Infrastructure Development, Structural Engineer


Top Recruiters

The top recruiters of MS in Civil Engineering in USA offer a competitive salary to the applicants after the course is completed. The names of top recruiters are listed below, such as WSP USA, Aerotek, Jacobs Engineering Group, Bechtel, etc.

  • Aerotek
  • AECOM
  • Randstad
  • Jacobs Engineering Group
  • Robert Half
  • WSP USA
  • Bechtel


Salary Package of MS in Civil Engineering in USA

The salary of Civil Engineer in USA after a Masters is listed below in the table. The salary provided to different job roles in the USA is higher than in most countries, such as a Project Engineer in the USA earns around USD 78,0000.

Job roles

Salary in USD

Salary in INR

Water Resources Engineer

USD 77,000

₹ 67,60,200

Environmental Engineer

USD 78,200

₹ 68,65,470

Structural Engineer

USD 77,200

₹ 67,76,680

Civil Engineer

USD 81,800

₹ 71,81,530

Transportation Engineer

USD 77,350

₹ 67,90,850


Frequently Asked Questions


Ques 1. What are the educational qualifications to take admission in an MS in Civil Engineering in the USA?

Ans 1. The educational qualifications for a Civil Engineering Masters in USA include a civil engineering degree in bachelor's or related field.


Ques 2. What are the career opportunities after completing a Masters in Civil Engineering in the USA?

Ans 2. The career opportunities after completing Masters in Civil Engineering in the USA are Structural Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Construction Engineer, Engineering Manager, Design Engineer, etc.


Ques 3. Which are the best-ranked universities in the USA offering MS in Civil Engineering?

Ans 3. The best-ranked offering Masters in Civil Engineering in the USA are Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Cornell University, Columbia University, etc.


Ques 4. What is the average programme fee of Masters in Civil Engineering in the USA?

Ans 4. The average tuition fees of Masters in Civil Engineering in the USA are around ₹ 12,29,000 - ₹ 1,31,69,000.


Ques 5. What are the names of government universities in the USA offering Masters in Civil Engineering in the USA?

Ans 5. The public universities of the USA offering Masters in Civil Engineering in the USA are Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Louisville, University of Central Florida, Washington State University, etc.