Civil Engineering is one of the earliest engineering disciplines that involve designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructures such as roads, bridges, buildings, dams, etc.
Besides being related to infrastructures, civil engineering is a broad sector that incorporates various study areas such as earthquake, environmental, structural, geotechnical, soil mechanics, water resources, transportation, etc.
To be a civil engineer, one has to hold a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. If you wish to pursue a core civil engineering program at the bachelor's level or with a concentration in any of its sub-disciplines, it is entirely upon you. Generally, students who wish to specialize in a particular field complete a master's degree in civil engineering.
Many universities in the USA are renowned for the civil engineering programs they offer to international students. Most US institutions provide bachelor's, master's and Ph.D in Civil engineering.
Undergraduate programs in civil engineering are offered as BEng, BSc, BSc/BEng Hon., BE and might have a duration ranging from 2 years to 5 years (if with specialization). Similarly, graduate courses may be MEng or MS with a 1 2- years course duration.
Civil Engineers work in public-private companies, consulting companies, government offices, or even as entrepreneurs. The average salary of a civil engineer in the USA with a bachelor's degree is $75,000 per year.
The QS World University Ranking 2022 has ranked some of the best universities in the US to study civil engineering.
Top Civil Engineering University in the USA is listed below
|
University |
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
|
The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) |
|
Stanford University |
|
Georgia Institute of Technology |
|
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
|
The University of Texas at Austin |
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
|
Purdue University |
|
Texas A&M University |
|
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
|
California Institute of Technology |
|
Carnegie Mellon University |
|
Columbia University |
|
Cornell University |
|
Michigan State University |
Top Civil Engineering University in the USA: Bachelor of Civil Engineering
An undergraduate program in civil engineering is generally offered as a Bachelor of Science degree, and students are required to choose civil engineering as one of their majors.
Most of the students complete the bachelor’s degree in 4 years. However, some honours and specialization programs may take 2-5 years to complete.
The US's Bachelor of Civil Engineering tuition fee ranges from $27,000 to $70,000 per year.
Bachelor of Civil Engineering: Program and Course Duration
|
University |
Program |
Course Duration |
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
4 years |
|
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) |
Bachelor of Science: Civil Engineering |
4 years |
|
Georgia Institute of Technology |
Bachelor of Science: Civil Engineering |
4 years |
|
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Bachelor of Science: Civil Engineering |
4 years |
|
University of Texas at Austin |
Bachelor of Science: Civil Engineering |
4 years |
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering: Civil Engineering |
4 years |
|
Purdue University |
Bachelor of Science: Civil Engineering |
4 years |
|
Texas A&M University |
Bachelor of Science: Civil Engineering |
4 years |
|
Carnegie Mellon University |
Bachelor of Science: Civil Engineering |
4 years |
|
Cornell University |
Bachelor of Science: Civil and Environmental Engineering |
4 years |
Bachelor of Civil Engineering in the US: Entry Requirement
Document Checklist:
- SAT or ACT score
- Transcripts
- Letter of References
- Proof of English language Proficiency
- Statement of Purpose
Academic Requirement:
- First-year international applicants must have completed a higher education certificate with a score of 2.5 to 3.0 out of 4.0.
- Students must have completed courses in Math, Physics, English, and one other subject.
English Language Requirement:
- A minimum TOEFL score of 69 to 90 overall
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 with at least 6.0 to 6.5 in each band
- A PTE score of 58 to 65 overall.
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Talk to an ExpertTop Civil Engineering University in the USA: Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Tuition Fee)
|
University |
Tuition Fee (per year) |
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
$27,755 |
|
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) |
$44,008 |
|
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
$36,018-45,775 |
|
University of Texas at Austin |
$44,042 |
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
$53,232 |
|
Purdue University |
$31,104 |
|
Texas A&M University |
$41,227.6 |
|
Carnegie Mellon University |
$59,864 |
|
Cornell University |
$62,456 |
Top Civil Engineering University in the USA: Master of Civil Engineering
A master's degree in civil engineering generally requires 31 to 36 credits of coursework and a thesis for completion. It takes 1.5 to 2 years to complete a master's program in the USA. However, it can also be completed within a year. The tuition fee for the program ranges from $27,000 to $48,000 per year.
|
University |
Program |
Course Duration |
|
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Master of Science in Civil Engineering |
1.5 – 2 years |
|
University of Texas at Austin |
Master of Science in Building Energy and Environments |
1.5 – 2 years |
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
Master of Science in Civil Engineering |
1.5 – 2 years |
|
Purdue University |
Master of Science in Civil Engineering |
1.5 – 2 years |
|
Texas A&M University |
Master of Science in Civil Engineering |
1.5 – 2 years |
|
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
Master of Civil Engineering |
1.5 – 2 years |
|
Carnegie Mellon University |
Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering |
1.5 – 2 years |
|
Columbia University |
Master of Science in Civil Engineering |
1.5 – 2 years |
Master of Civil Engineering in the US: Entry Requirement
Document Checklist:
- Official Transcripts of earlier degrees
- Proof of Funds
- Letters of Recommendation
- Official Test Scores
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
Academic Requirement:
- A four years bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field from a recognized university is necessary
- A minimum GPA of 2.7 to 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to Grade “B” or 83-86%).
- The field of study must be related to the field of study desired.
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 with at least 6.0 to 6.5 in each band.
- A TOEFL score of 90 to 100 with at least 18 to 23 in each section.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores requirement
Most colleges in the United States have reinstated the GRE requirement for admission to graduate-level engineering programs. Most institutions do not have a minimum GRE score requirement and evaluate applications holistically rather than only on the conventional exam performance.
Top Civil Engineering University in the USA: Master of Civil Engineering (Tuition Fee)
|
University |
Tuition Fee |
|
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
$36,798 |
|
University of Texas at Austin |
$34,624 - $39,752 |
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
$48,542 |
|
Purdue University |
$28,794 |
|
Texas A&M University |
$27,000 |
|
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
$32,858 |
|
Carnegie Mellon University |
$52,100 |
|
Columbia University |
$40,896 |
Top Areas of Concentration
- Construction and Infrastructure Systems Engineering
- Geosystems Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Building Energy and Environments
- Ocean Energy
- Transportation Systems Engineering
- Structural Engineering, Mechanics, and Materials
- Water Resources Engineering
Top Civil Engineering University in the USA: PhD in Civil Engineering
A doctoral program in Civil Engineering is a 4 to 5 years program. About 50 to 60% of the total program is research work. The tuition fee for the program ranges from $15,000 to $56,000 per year. However, PhD students are well funded through numerous funding opportunities.
|
University |
Program |
Course Duration |
|
Georgia Institute of Technology |
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering |
4 – 5 years |
|
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering |
4 – 6 years |
|
Purdue University |
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering |
4 – 5 years |
|
Texas A&M University |
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering |
4 – 5 years |
|
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering |
4 – 5 years |
|
California Institute of Technology |
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering |
4 – 5 years |
|
Carnegie Mellon University |
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering |
4 – 5 years |
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering: Entry Requirement
Document Checklist:
- Official Transcripts
- Proof of Funds
- Official Test Scores (GRE)
- English /Language Proficiency
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
Academic Requirement:
- A bachelor’s or a master’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum score of 3.0 to 3.3 in the final two years of study
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 with at least 6.0 to 6.5 in each band
- A TOEFL score of 90 to 100 with at least 18 to 23 in each section
Top Civil Engineering University in the USA: PhD in Civil Engineering (Tuition Fee)
|
University |
Tuition Fee |
|
Georgia Institute of Technology |
$29,140 |
|
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
$28,464 |
|
Purdue University |
$15,114 |
|
Texas A&M University |
$27,000 |
|
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
$32,858 |
|
California Institute of Technology |
$56,364 |
|
Carnegie Mellon University |
$46,400 |
|
Top Civil Engineering University in the USA: Scholarship
Below are some scholarships you may be entitled to by those universities to study civil engineering in the USA.
|
University |
Awards |
Amount |
|
University of Texas at Austin |
Jerry D. Wilcox Community Engagement Scholarship |
$3500 |
|
International Education Fee Scholarship |
NA |
|
|
The Limura Peace Endowed Scholarship |
$5000 |
|
|
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor |
International Undergraduate Scholarship |
$10,000 |
|
Texas A&M University |
President's International Excellence Award |
$3000 - $4000 |
|
International Achieve Scholar |
$2000 - $3000 |
|
|
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
A. Epstein Award in Civil Engineering |
NA |
|
American Society of Civil Engineering Outstanding Student Award |
NA |
Top Hiring Companies for Civil Engineers in the USA
- US Navy
- US Army
- JE Dunn Construction
- Medtronic
- US Air Force
Top Civil Engineering University in the USA: Job Scope
Civil Engineers are hired by construction companies, consulting companies, government offices, etc. for roles such as designer, site engineer, project manager, construction manager, etc. The average salary of a civil engineer in the USA with a bachelor's degree is $75,000 per year.
|
Role |
Range of Salary |
Average Salary |
|
Project Engineer |
$56,000 - $92,000 |
$71,323 |
|
Civil Engineer |
$55,000 - $95,000 |
$68,651 |
|
Structural Engineer |
$57,000 - $92,000 |
$71,323 |
|
Transportation Engineer |
$58,000 - $96,000 |
$71,039 |
|
Project Manager |
$65,000 - $121,000 |
$60,306 |
|
Geotechnical Engineer |
$53,000 - $86,000 |
$67,283 |
|
Design Engineer |
$54,000 - $84,000 |
$66,060 |
|
Senior Structural Engineer |
$81,000 - $131,000 |
$101,123 |
|
Senior Civil Engineer |
$75,000 - $128,000 |
$96,274 |
|
Water Resources Engineer |
$58,000 - $93,000 |
$71,686 |
|
Environmental Engineer |
$50,000 - $106,000 |
$67,462 |
|
Construction Project Manager |
$64,000 - $132,000 |
$90,942 |
|
Construction Manager |
$66,000 - $149,000 |
$98,187 |
