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

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 |
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Top specialization of the course |
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Top universities |
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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
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 |
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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 |
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Purdue University |
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University of California, Berkeley |
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Cornell University |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
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Georgia Institute of Technology |
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Princeton University |
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Columbia University |
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Northwestern University |
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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.