Masters in Civil Engineering in USA

Civil engineering is one of the rapidly growing fields in the United States is civil engineering, where students can develop their abilities and consider a variety of career alternatives. Here are some top reasons to go for an MS in civil engineering in the USA:

• Between 2022 and 2032, there is a projected 5% growth in the employment of civil engineers.

• An average of 21,200 positions for civil engineers are anticipated to become available during the next 10 years.

• As of May 2022, the typical yearly civil engineer salary in USA was 89,940 USD (75 lakhs INR).

• With tuition costs ranging from 16 to 24 lakhs INR, a few of the best universities in the country are the University of Texas at Austin and Cornell University, which are among those offering the least expensive MS in Civil Engineering.

The highlights of the MS in civil engineering in USA are listed below for Indian students.

The top colleges for an MS in civil engineering in USA, along with the cost of tuition and the application date, are listed below, based on the QS News ranking for civil and structural engineering for 2025:

Indian students have slightly different admission requirements to fulfil than domestic students. Nonetheless, the following section covers some of the basic requirements for admission and eligibility for the MS in Civil Engineering in USA.

To pursue an MS in the USA, Indian students are required to have:

• 10+2+4 education

• bachelor's degree (4 years) 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

To apply to US universities, an Indian student's application must include the following:

• 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 the English language and other standardised tests are directly submitted from the testing agency.

• US student visa

Some of the best universities in USA for MS in civil engineering have annual tuition costs ranging from $19,000 to $86,000 USD (15 lakhs to 71 crores INR).

The cost of living in the United States is higher than in other nations. The estimated monthly amount is 2,300 USD (1.91 lakhs INR). Moreover, the cost of living in the United States is significantly influenced by the type of student housing you select.

Read More: Cost of Living in USA

Students often decide to study abroad in the United States. However, you need a student visa to fulfil your aspiration. The F1 student visa, J1 exchange visitor visa, and M1 vocational/non-academic student visa are the three different forms of student visas available for entry into the US. 

Further, Indian students accepted into the MS in Civil Engineering program in the United States must obtain an F1 student visa. It is important to learn that the application fee for the US student visa is USD 160.

In the United States, the inflation rate rose from 3.2% in 2011 to 8.3% in 2022. As a result, higher education costs have increased as well. Indian students can opt for different ways to pay for their education. Loans, bursaries, scholarships, part-time employment, etc. are a few alternatives.

A list of scholarships available to Indian students studying for an MS in civil engineering in USA is shown in the following table:

• 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

The oil and gas sector recruit most civil engineer and offer the highest salary to civil engineerin in US. Further, places in the US such as Texas, Houston, Hinesville and Georgia offer the highest salaries for jobs in the United States. On an average, after completing the MS, the median annual civil engineer salary in USA is 89,940 USD (74 lakhs INR).

Some of the key job profiles and civil engineer salaries in USA are:

Growth rates for environmental engineers and construction managers are expected to be 6% and 5%, respectively, in the coming years. Therefore, pursuing an MS in civil engineering in the United States might offer you a wealth of opportunities to explore your professional path better. Furthermore, when the nation's employment rate rises, the demand for civil engineers also grows proportionately.

To sum up, enrolling in a master's degree in civil engineering in the USA is wise. There are many top-notch universities where one can enrol and finance their education, and students can apply for financial help. The USA is the ideal country for you to study civil engineering if you intend to study abroad.

If you want to know more about a master's in civil engineering in USA for free or want to study in USA, we encourage you to speak with our team of expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC). Our counsellors will provide you with guidance throughout your study abroad. Get help with the application process, SOPs, and filing for a visa. Visit us and get one-to-one counselling, or avail yourself of free video counselling via our website. We will be happy to help you, so please do not hesitate to contact us at application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011.

Question: What is the salary of a civil engineer in the USA?

Answer: In the United States, the starting pay for a civil engineer is roughly USD 64,000 (53 lakh INR) annually. AECOM, Jacobs Engineering Group, Boeing, Barton Malow Company, and the U.S. Navy Civil Engineering Corps are a few of the leading companies in the United States that provide high-paying jobs to civil engineering graduates.

Question: Is the USA good for MS in civil engineering?

Answer: Yes, Civil engineering is one of the most quick-moving domains in the USA, where students can nurture their skills and explore various career paths. Additionally, 10 universities in the USA rank in the list of top 50 universities offering this course abroad, per the QS Ranking 2024.

Question: Can I pursue MS in Civil Engineering in USA without a GRE?

Answer: Yes, Indian students can also enrol in this course without having to submit their GRE results. Top USA universities that provide an MS in civil engineering without a GRE include Iowa State University, Vanderbilt University, George Mason University, and the University of Washington.

Question: Are civil engineers in demand in the USA?

Answer: Yes, between 2022 and 2032, the number of civil engineers employed will increase by 5%. An average of 21,200 positions for civil engineers are anticipated to become available during the next 10 years.

Question: How is Civil Engineering different from Construction Engineering?

Answer: Although construction engineering is primarily concerned with construction methods and procedures, civil engineering primarily deals with project planning, design, and execution.

Question: What is the total cost of attending a USA university to earn a master's degree in civil engineering?

Answer: The cost of tuition for a master's degree in civil engineering in the United States ranges from $19,000 to USD 86,000 (15 lakhs to 71 crores INR) annually for Indian students.

Question: Is work experience required in the United States for an MS in Civil Engineering program?

Answer: Not all American colleges demand work experience for MS in civil engineering candidates. However, it provides a clear advantage to the program.

Question: Which is the best master's program for civil engineering?

Answer: You can pursue MS in Civil Engineering in USA with any one of the eight specialisation areas. 1. Construction, 2. Geomatics, 3. Geotechnical, 4. Hydraulics and Hydrology, 5. Structural, 6. Transportation, 7. Materials, and 8. Infrastructure Systems

Question: What are some of the job profiles of civil engineering?

Answer: Some of the job profiles of civil engineering are Structural Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Water Resources Engineer, Project Engineer, and much more.

Question: Name a few scholarships to study MS in civil engineering in USA.

Answer: Name of the scholarships are such as: 

• 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