MS in Civil Engineering in USA - Colleges and Fees 2026

According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US economy has risen sharply since the COVID-19 restrictions have subsided. The USA is one of the preferred destinations for an MS in Civil Engineering abroad. International students can check the list of best Civil Engineering University in USA to complete the degree. Pursuing an MS in Civil Engineering in USA opens career opportunities in popular sectors, including Construction, Infrastructure development, Government agencies, Consulting firms, etc.

International students find universities for Civil Engineering in USA to complete their higher studies. There are over 150 best universities in USA for Civil Engineering. Students can complete the degree at an affordable cost as the first-year tuition fees vary from INR 9 L to INR 54 L and more. 

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MS in Civil Engineering in USA Highlights

International students can check the Master in Civil Engineering in USA highlights below:

Particulars	Statistics
Total no. of MS in Civil Engineering Universities in USA	150+ approx
MS Specializations in USA	Transportation Planning & Engineering, Construction Management, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering
MS in Civil Engineering in the US cost (Total 1st year cost)	Rs 32.28 lakhs (approx.)
Exams required	GRE, IELTS / TOEFL

Top Ranked MS in Civil Engineering Colleges in USA

Table mentioned below shows the top universities for Civil Engineering with QS World University Rankings of 2024-

Universities	QS World University Rankings by Subject of 2024 for Civil Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	1
University of California, Berkeley	2
Stanford University	10
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	15
Purdue University	17
University of Texas at Austin	17
Georgia Institute of Technology	22
University of California, Los Angeles	23
Texas A and M University	26
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	31

(Source: QS)

Cost of Studying MS in Civil Engineering in USA

Students who want to study MS courses in Civil Engineering in USA should know the total cost of studying in USA. This average includes the tuition fee and living expenditure. Check the average tuition fee and cost of living that will be involved while pursuing an MS in Civil Engineering in the USA provided below.

• The total average 1st-year cost is Rs 32.28 lakhs
• The average tuition fee is Rs 23.51 lakhs
• The average living expense is Rs 8.77 lakhs

(The average 1st year tuition fee is based on the 4453 MS courses in the USA and the average cost of living is based on the 1090 colleges in the USA)

Student Visa Cost for USA

When it comes to studying abroad, the US is a top choice among students. But to study in USA, it is important to have a student visa. There are 3 types of student visa for the US namely F1 student visa, J1 exchange visitor visa, and M1 vocational/non-academic student visa. The international students who will be admitted to MS in Civil Engineering course in the USA need an F1 student visa. The application fee for the US student visa is USD 160.

MS in Civil Engineering Requirements for USA – Eligibility Criteria

Students are required to fulfill the below-given primary requirements in order to study MS in Civil Engineering in the USA.

• The students must have 3-4 years of a bachelor’s degree in the relevant field with an average of GPA 3.0 or 65-70% and above
• GRE score of 290 and above
• Proof of English Language Proficiency tests such as IELTS score or TOEFL score
• Statement of purpose
• 2-3 letters of recommendation

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Work Permit after Studying MS in Civil Engineering in USA

The international students who are looking to extend their stay in the US after the completion of a Masters in Civil Engineering in USA need to get a post-study work permit. As an F1 student visa holder, the international students shall be able to complete a year of temporary employment directly related to their major study field. F1 visa holders can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) once they complete their studies.

What is Optional Practical Training? OPT is a one-year work and stay-back permit provided to international students upon completion of the degree program in the US.

MS in Civil Engineering Scholarships USA

Students can apply for various scholarships in order to reduce the cost of study while pursuing an MS in Civil Engineering in the USA. We have mentioned some of the popular scholarships here. The students can also check the list of scholarships for studying in the US from our website.

• Jared J. Davis Grant
• Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award
• QS Scholarship for Academic Excellence
• Brian Colombana Scholarship

Popular Recruiters for MS in Civil Engineering in USA

Some of the top recruiters for Masters in Civil Engineering in USA are Aecom Corporation, Matrix Design Group Inc., Jacobs Engineering Group, Stantec, WSP Global Inc., CDM Smith, and Tetra Tech Inc.

MS in Civil Engineering USA Jobs & Salaries

The table given below specifies the job titles and respective average salaries provided to MS in Civil Engineering graduates in the USA. The salaries can increase and decrease from time to time. 

Job Titles	Average Salary
Structural Engineer	USD71,865
Civil Engineer	USD72,915
Project Engineer	USD73,595
Geotechnical Engineer	USD73,621
Water Resources Engineer	USD72,124
Senior Structural Engineer	USD101,731
Project Manager	USD88,751

(Source: PayScale)

Chandra Shekhar Singh Sengar10-03-2025 09:31