Civil Engineering is a broad discipline that is critical to the functioning of infrastructure for cities, states, countries.
Aspects that Civil Engineering (CivEng) covers include: drinking water, water treatment and management, flood management; transportation systems; energy systems, including renewable sources; design, construction and structural integrity of buildings; environmental cleanup, resource management; etc. Civil engineers are particularly in need where infrastructure is aging and/or populations are growing.
Civil engineer career opportunities and salaries vary widely, based on the degree level earned, sub-discipline studied, work experience and possibly the sector chosen (public or private). According to multiple data sources, this profession has/ will have thousands of new job openings through 2024. Advanced degrees such as a Master’s increase the opportunities, salary and responsibilities available to a civil engineer. An online master’s degree with little or no residency requirement is typically suited to a working professional who has a bachelor of civil engineering. (Some master’s CivEng programs allow students who have any undergraduate engineering degree, but most schools in this list emphasize CivEng.)
If you are looking for such a program — an online master’s degree in civil engineering — this ranking article will get you started. Ranking methodology is explained at the end, after the review entries. After following that filtering process, we were left with 28 colleges. These are the 25 with the lowest tuition as per NCES data available. The remaining three candidates, in order of increasing tuition, are: Southern Methodist University, Case Western Reserve University, Columbia University in the City of New York.
25 Most Affordable Graduate Colleges with Online Civil Engineering Master’s Degrees
Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw State University (KSU, est. 1963) is a public institution designated a Best for veterans in 2018 by Military Times. A member of the University System of Georgia, it serves students on two campuses plus online. It earned two diversity awards in 2017 — both from Insight into Diversity. U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) has recognized the university as one of America’s Best Colleges (2016 and other years), while the freshman year experience has earned an “Academic Program to Look For” status by USNWR over many years. USNWR also ranked KSU for Best Online Programs 2017, in graduate programs including a first appearance for engineering, and a #19 ranking for online MBAs. Other rankings/ recognition include that from: Princeton Review (top business schools, Green Colleges); Chief Executive Magazine (Go-To Business School); Bloomberg BusinessWeek (Top 50 MBA, #3 Executive MBA). Notable alumni of Kennesaw include: MMA fighter Cale Yarbrough and TV hosts Ryan Seacrest and Ty Pennington.
KSU offers associate’s through doctoral level degrees (over 150 in total), plus certificate programs. Over 70 program are available online, including the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) with three Concentration choices: Structural and Geotechnical Engineering; Transportation and Pavement Engineering; Environmental Engineering and Water Resources. (An additional two concentrations are available on-campus only.) The program offers online courses, is designed for working professionals, and meets ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) requirements as a prerequisite degree for Professional Engineering licensing. Applying students should typically have a bachelor’s engineering degree accredited by ABET, but may be admitting from non-engineering fields. Online courses are delivered via the Brightspace/ Desire2Learn system and present the same material as for on-campus versions. Faculty members go through online teaching certification. Graduates of the MSCE will be qualified to teach at the college level.
- In-state: $4,734
- Out-of-state: $17,118
- #students: 35018
- #grads: 2852
- Distance ed: 55%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Tyler, Texas
University of Texas at Tyler (UTT, est. 1971) is a public institution and one of the fastest-growing members of the University of Texas System. Designated a Best for Veterans University (Military Times, 2014), UTT serves students on three campuses and a learning center, plus online. The university has a string of recognitions from U.S. News & World Report, including being ranked in the top 25 in America’s Best Colleges – West (multiple years), and multiple top rankings for the graduate (master’s and doctoral) nursing programs, amongst others. Notable alumni of UTT include Emmy award winner Allen Morris (producer/ director) and entrepreneur Jimmy Pena (PrayFit Ministries).
UTT offers bachelor’s through master’s degrees (over 80 in total), plus certificate programs. Grad engineering programs includes the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), 100% online courses (choice of on-campus courses, if desired), with a four-year timeline (part-time). Graduation requirements include completion of 30-36 grad level credits, depending on the track option selected. The three choices are: a research option; a professional practice option; and a technical and management development option. Admission requirements include having an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in civil engineering (or must complete necessary coursework first). UTT’s ABET-certified BCSE offering is not online, but there is a 4+1 Bachelor’s to Master dual degree (full-time). Letters of recommendation are not required for the MSCE. Possible careers include college-level instruction in civil engineering.
- In-state: $4,896
- Out-of-state: $12,294
- #students: 9835
- #grads: 2803
- Distance ed: 78%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Lubbock, Texas
Texas Tech University (TTU, est. 1923) is a public institution and part of the Texas Tech University System, which consists of two universities and two health centers. TTU also serves students through online education. The beauty of the campus has been recognized by many, including none other than author James Michener, and several buildings have or will receive LEED sustainability certification. Over the years, TTU’s students have earned many Goldwater and Fulbright Scholarships, and faculty members have also earned the latter (about three dozen student or faculty winners for each award). Notable alumni from TTU include musician John Denver, would-be assassin (of President Ronald Reagan) John Hinckley Jr., actor George Eads (MacGyver, CSI), CEO Ed Whitacre (served at AT&T and General Motors — both of which are Fortune Top 10 companies) and several others.
TTU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees (over 300 in total), plus certificate programs. The Whitacre College of Engineering’s programs include the online Master of Engineering (ME) and the online Master of Civil Engineering (MCE). The latter has three options: thesis, report or course only. These options all require completion of 30 credit hours; however, this is based on a combination of 24-27 c.h. of courses for the first two options, plus either independent research/ thesis (6 credits) or a report (3 credits), respectively. The third option has no further research/ report requirement but has a comprehensive exam. Coursework for all options is all online, and sub-disciplines for specialization include: construction engineering and management, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, water resources engineering. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s of engineer or equivalent. The online ME degree is multi-disciplinary non-thesis program, requires 36 credits, with a maximum of 15 credits per selected engineering discipline, such as civil engineering. (One or more disciplines can be selected.) For both the MCE and ME, the accrediting agency is the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
- In-state: $5,400
- Out-of-state: $12,744
- #students: 36551
- #grads: 6588
- Distance ed: 41%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Arlington, Texas
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA, est. 1895) is a public institution that is part of the University of Texas System, and one of the most diverse (#5) in the country. UTA’s College of Engineering has earned multiple topical rankings, including for its undergrad and graduate engineering programs — which number more than 30 in total, over seven departments plus research centers. Overall, UTA has a lengthy list of rankings/ recognition include that from: Military Times (Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 — #1 in Texas, #12 nationally); Victory Media (Military Friendly Schools – #9 2018); U.S. News & World Report (#1 2018 national publics for students graduating with the lowest average debt; #5 2018 for undergrad diversity nationally; Best Graduate Schools 2018 – 20+ graduate topics; Best Global Universities – #416 2017; Best Graduate Schools 2018 – #73 Engineering, #48 civil engineering, etc.); American Society of Civil Engineers’ Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE graduate student chapter of the year 2017); Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (top rankings for number of degrees awarded to African-American (bachelor’s, master’s) and Hispanic (bachelor’s) students); Winds of Change (top 200 colleges 2017-18 for Native American students in STEM degree programs); Latino Leaders magazine (Best Schools for Latinos); Hispanic Network Magazine (Best of the Best Schools 2017); Brookings Institute (top publics for high-quality college education for any income level); Princeton Review (Best 381 Colleges); Center for World University Rankings (2017 – #166 USA, plus other years); Washington Monthly (America’s Best 4-Year Colleges for Adult Learners – #1 statewide, #49 nationally); plus dozens of other rankings including topical lists. Notable alumni from UTA include astronaut Kalpana Chawla (on board the Space Shuttle Columbia, which broke apart upon re-entry, in Feb 2003), and actor Lou Diamond Phillips, amongst others.
UTA offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees (over 180 in total), plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs include the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), which has seven choices for research areas: Construction Engineering and Management; Environmental (water and air quality, hazardous materials); Geotechnical (soil mechanics); Infrastructure System Engineering and Management; Structures and Applied Mechanics; Transportation (traffic planning — all types); Water Resources (hydrology).
- In-state: $7,141
- Out-of-state: $15,638
- #students: 45282
- #grads: 12507
- Distance ed: 49%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Mississippi State, Mississippi
Mississippi State University (MSU, est. 1878) is a public institution serving students at two campuses plus online. This main campus was designated a Tree Campus USA, partly due to the planting of new trees and daffodils yearly. MSU’s faculty or students have collectively earned prestigious awards such as Rhodes and Goldwater Scholarships, amongst others. The university was recognized in the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll (Economic Opportunity category), and is Top 100 research institution nationally (as per the National Science Foundation). MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering (BCoE) itself has numerous awards/ recognitions. Firstly, an Outstanding Student Chapter award has been earned every year for over a dozen years from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. One initiative being pursued by MSU’s EWB (Engineers Without Borders) chapter is exploring sustainable systems for water and agriculture, to help eliminate hunger worldwide. BCoE has no fewer than three disciplines (mechanical, aeronautical/ astronautical, electrical) that are ranked in the top 50 for research and development budget. Further, U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) ranked BCoE in the top 20 (2018) for Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs. USNWR also ranked MSU for other non-engineering graduate online programs (Computer IT, Info Systems). Other rankings: Military Times (Top 50 Best for Vets – business schools); Forbes; Washington Monthly. MSU notable alumni include writer John Grisham, amongst others.
MSU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs – delivered by Bagley College of Engineering (BCoE) – include the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), which has a choice of thesis or non-thesis options, as well as six study areas: Construction Materials, Environmental Engineering, Structural, Geotechnical, Water Resources, Transportation. Types of research work include water quality, wind analysis, transportation, surveying and more. Courses have both synchronous and asynchronous (site-specific) options, with classes being recorded and archived, then available 24/7 in two digital formats. Admission requirements include an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) or equivalent. Other students may be admitted after evaluation and recommendation. Students choosing the MSCE thesis track will complete 24 course credit hours and at least six research credit hours. Non-thesis track students will complete 33 c.c.h.
- In-state: $7,780
- Out-of-state: $20,900
- #students: 21622
- #grads: 3532
- Distance ed: 34%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Houston, Texas
University of Houston (UH, est. 1927) is a member of the public University of Houston System. UH’s Cullen College of Engineering (CCoE) has the 5th largest undergrad major and largest graduate major, by enrollment (Fall 2017), amongst the university’s academic divisions. It is home to research centers and labs having prominent researchers working on “cutting-edge research collaborations.” U.S. News & World Report ranked CCoE amongst the top 100 best engineering schools in 2017 (plus other undergrad and grad topical rankings). Other institutional and topical non-engineering rankings have been awarded to UH by: Diverse Issues in Higher Education (for most degrees awarded statewide to minority students, including Asian American, African American, Hispanic/ Latinx students – especially in various business and finance topics, in both undergrad and graduate programs); Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education; Bloomberg BusinessWeek; Princeton Review /Entrepreneur magazine (Best Value College 20114; business-related topical rankings, multiple years); Forbes; Washington Monthly; Financial Times, and others. Notable alumni/ previous students from UH include Senator Elizabeth Warren, novelist Alice Sebold, host Star Jones, and actor Jim Parsons (Young Sheldon, Big Bang Theory).
UH offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degree programs (over 300 in total, including undergrad minors). Graduate engineering programs include the partially online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), available through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), which is part of the Cullen College of Engineering (CCoE). The program combines structural engineering and six other engineering disciplines: environmental, geotechnical, geosensing /geoinformatics, hydrosystems, mechanical, subsea. While courses are offered face-to-face on-campus, classes for most are also streamed live and recorded for later access (some sub-disciplines may have limited online courses). In-person requirements are limited to orientation and exams. This approach is geared to working professionals. Graduation requirements for the non-thesis track include completion of 10 courses and 31 credit hours — taking as little as two years but typically three years. A thesis track is also available.
- In-state: $7,956
- Out-of-state: $17,100
- #students: 43774
- #grads: 7779
- Distance ed: 10%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Raleigh, North Carolina
North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NCSU, est. 1887) is a public institution and part of the University of North Carolina System. The university serves students on two campuses plus online. Raleigh itself has high rankings as a city, from Forbes, Time and U.S. News & World Report (USNWR), collectively as a top place for live and work, especially for tech jobs and young professionals. USNWR also ranked NCSU in their Best Online Programs 2018 report, with online Graduate Engineering programs at #9 nationally, online Bachelor’s programs at #71, undergrad and graduate Civil Engineering at #15 and #24 (respectively), four other undergrad engineering programs in the top 20 (and 11 grad programs in top 40), plus other topical graduate and undergrad and institutional rankings. Other rankings/ recognition include that from: Princeton Review (Best 382 Colleges 2018 – Colleges That Pay You Back 2018, Best Southeastern College, Green Colleges, plus various topical rankings); Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (Best Colleges 2018 – Best Value publics #9 in-state and #7 out-of-state, #66 nationally); Military Times (Best: Colleges 2018); Victory Media (Military Friendly Schools 2018 – #6 Tier 1 research institutions); Washington Monthly; Academic Ranking of World Universities (Electrical Engineering — #20 U.S, #29 worldwide) and more. Notable alumni from NCSU include actor Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Rhett and James of the popular YouTube channel Good Mythical Morning, one-time presidential candidate John Edwards, and numerous others.
NSCU offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs include the online Master of Civil Engineering. The program requires 30 credit hours in coursework (no thesis requirement) and has five concentration choices: construction engineering and management, geotechnical, structures and mechanics, transportation systems, water resources. No on-campus presence is necessary.
- In-state: $8,088
- Out-of-state: $22,610
- #students: 33755
- #grads: 9928
- Distance ed: 31%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Ames, Iowa
Iowa State University (ISU, est. 1858) is a public institution with a number of milestones, including the world’s first electronic digital computer (the ABC) and the Cyence supercomputer (183 trillion calculations per second), a moving tornado simulator, the highest resolution virtual reality simulator and more. The university is research-heavy (around 100 centers/ institutes), with award-winning researchers, including faculty who have earned prizes/ scholarships including Nobel, Pulitzer, Fulbright and others. ISU can boast awards/ recognition from multiple sources, including: US News & World Report (#2 2015 – Biological/ Agricultural Engineering, Best Undergraduate Engineering Program, Best Engineering School, and nine more engineering programs in the top 55, including Civil Engineering – #37 2015, #12 2017 Publics and top 25 2018), Wall Street Journal (Best Engineering University); Fiske Guide to Colleges (Best Buy College); Washington Monthly (Best Bang for the Buck University, Best National University); Money Magazine (Best College for Your Money) and more. Notable alumni of ISU include scientist/ botanist George Washington Carver (known particularly for his work with peanut crops), John Vincent Atanasoff (co-inventor of the aforementioned ABC computer), electrical engineers Ed McCracken (founder of Silicon Graphics, Inc.) and Thomas Whitney (inventor of the pocket calculator), and numerous other engineers and scientists.
ISU offers bachelor’s through doctoral level degrees (over 300 in total), plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs (nearly 40) include the Master of Science (MS) or Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering, offered through the College of Engineering (which is as old as ISU). Both of these can be taken as online degrees, and both have an Emphasis in Construction Engineering and Management. Admission requirements for both programs include holding an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering (any discipline), but this may be waived for qualified construction professionals – who can complete necessary prerequisite courses simultaneously upon entering either graduate program. How these programs differ is that the MEng consists of coursework-only, while the MS has a “creative component” option consisting of coursework and a project. Neither master’s track requires a thesis.
- In-state: $8,474
- Out-of-state: $21,786
- #students: 36350
- #grads: 5679
- Distance ed: 26%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Norfolk, Virginia
Old Dominion University (ODU, est. 1930) is a public institution originally founded as an extension to the venerable College of William and Mary. It serves students on two campuses, three learning centers, plus online. Rankings and recognition for ODU include that from: U.S. News & World Report (Best Online Programs 2018 – #66 Bachelor’s and other years, #42 Online Graduate Engineering, #21 for Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs for Veterans, #40 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, #21 Best Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans, and other topical graduate rankings; #210 2017 National Universities); Princeton Review (Best Regional College); Money magazine (Best Colleges); Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (top producer of minority graduates including for STEM-H and including for engineering-related bachelor’s degrees – #15 Asian-Americans and #18 African-Americans); Victory Media (Military Friendly Schools Gold, including for some engineering programs). Notable alumni of ODU include writer/ activist Maya Angelou amongst many others.
ODU offers bachelor’s through doctorate degrees (nearly 170 in total), plus certificate programs. Over 100 academic programs are available online through ODU’s ODUOnline division. Graduate engineering programs include an online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) with a Emphasis of Coastal Engineering, delivered through the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology. (Note: ODU also has an online bachelor’s in civil engineering – currently one of two such American colleges – although it is an upper-division completion program.) Students can either enter the full program, or start first with an online certificate for the Coastal Engineering emphasis (four courses) and later take the rest of the master’s program. Students complete 24 credit hours in courses plus six c.h. for the thesis work.
- In-state: $8,736
- Out-of-state: $25,548
- #students: 24322
- #grads: 4529
- Distance ed: 52%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Athens, Ohio
Ohio University (OU, est. 1804) is a member of the public University System of Ohio — and one of the oldest public institutions in the country. It serves student at this Athens campus, five regional campuses, plus online (eLearning division). The university ranked in the top 3% globally in 2015, according to a report by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), and in Princeton Review’s “2017 Best Colleges” report, as well as Peterson’s Guide to Competitive Colleges. U.S. News & World Report has numerous rankings for OU, including: #78 in 2018 amongst publics in the country; #36 online graduate engineering 2018, including a ranking for civil engineering, and in others; plus dozens of other topical graduate program rankings in 2018 and other years. Other ranking sources include Bloomberg Businessweek. Notable alumni from OU include TV show host Matt Lauer of the Today Show, and a number of Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winners.
OU offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs available through the Russ College of Engineering engineering include the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE). The MSCE has four engineering interest areas (Construction/ Management, Environmental, Structural, Transportation), and total credits vary by area. A qualifying admission exam is not necessary, and the program typically takes two years or longer.
- In-state: $9,510
- Out-of-state: $17,502
- #students: 29509
- #grads: 5924
- Distance ed: 42%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Rolla, Missouri
Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST, est. 1870) is part of the public University of Missouri System. Newsweek ranked MST as a Best Investment for out-of-state students in the public universities category, while the Brookings Institution ranked it #2 for value-added public universities. It also ranked #2 in a similar category (public) in Kiplinger’s Best College Values based on a “salary yardstick. Other institutional rankings include that from: USAToday (#3 engineering college 2016); PayScale.com (#8 2017 for annual return on investment), amongst others. Several of MST’s online graduate engineering programs (offered by the College of Engineering and Computing) have ranked (by U.S. News & World Report) in the top 80 nationally, and as high as fifth, both in the Publics category, in recent years, including civil engineering, and including #12 public (#16 overall) for online graduate engineering 2017. Notable alumni of MST include Twitter social media site co-founder Jack Dorsey and others.
MST offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees (nearly 100 in total), plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs include the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE). This is a 30-credit, non-thesis program with five engineering specialization choices: Environmental, Structural, Geotechnical, Water Resources, Construction. Classes are offered live, with some live-streamed and archived. As not all courses are available online, a list of current distance courses for the MSCE is maintained on the MST Web site. In addition, a learning management system and live collaboration are some of the technologies used for this graduate distance/ online degree program. Admission requirements include an accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering (any discipline). While the MSCE does require a GPA or GRE score, the five specializations in their certificate form (online) do not require a GRE score.
- In-state: $9,566
- Out-of-state: $27,312
- #students: 8835
- #grads: 1929
- Distance ed: 38%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Fort Collins, Colorado
Part of the public Colorado State University System, Colorado State University-Fort Collins (CSU, est. 1870) is a highly ranked institution with several highly-ranked schools/ colleges, including the Walter Scott College of Engineering (WSCoE). U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) alone has ranked CSU for many years, both institutionally and topical. This includes: top Best Value Schools 2017; top low-debt schools 2017; Best for Veterans 2017; Best Graduate Schools – Engineering #67 2017, plus #39 for civil engineering plus five other engineering disciplines, and over a dozen non-engineering topical rankings in the top 100 nationally; top U.S. public universities – #58 2018; plus other rankings, other years. Other rankings/ recognition sources include: Sierra Club Magazine (Coolest Schools – #4 2015, plus other years); Military Times (Best for Vets 2018 (#5 publics, #7 4-year schools) and other years); Money Magazine (Best Colleges for Your Money); Wall Street Journal (#7 best colleges for imparting critical thinking skills); Princeton Review (Best 382 Colleges: 2018); Forbes (America’s Top Colleges 2017); Financial Times (top Online MBA 2017 – #12 USA, #19 globally); Washington Monthly and more. Notable CSU alumni include Peace Corps co-founder Maurice Albertson — which may partly account for CSU ranking #6 as a top-producing college/ university for Peace Corp members. Other alumni: actors Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones, Frontier) and Dominique Dunne; mathematician John Gill and numerous others.
CSU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificates. Graduate engineering programs — delivered by WSCoE — include two online Civil Engineering programs: a 30-credit Master of Engineering (ME), and a 32-credit Master of Science (MSCE). The ME is a more general engineering degree with a specialization in Civil Engineering. Both programs have a particular focus in water resources engineering/ management, with courses that build knowledge in this area.
- In-state: $9,628
- Out-of-state: $23,604
- #students: 31856
- #grads: 6679
- Distance ed: 37%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Manhattan, Kansas
Kansas State University (K-State, est. 1863) is a public serving students on three bricks and mortar campuses, plus the K-State Global campus for distance/ online programs. The university has a culture of “family” for staff and students, and can boast job placement rates of 94% and 97% for bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates, respectively. The Wall Street Journal ranked K-State #12 in 2017 for the best colleges for imparting critical thinking skills to students. Both Money Magazine and SmartAsset ranked K-State a best value in the state, with latter giving a #1 rank. Princeton Review ranked K-State in 15 categories in their “The Best 382 Colleges: 2018 Edition,” including: #6 happiest students; #7 best run colleges. Other rankings include for U.S. News & World Report, which in 2018 ranked the university in their Best Online Programs 2018, for multiple categories including top 100 Grad Engineering and top 100 Veterans Grad Engineering, plus rankings in other years. Notable K-State alumni include: Erin Brockovich (activist); actress Kirstie Alley; and father of pro golfer Tiger Woods, Earl Woods; amongst others.
K-State offers associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs — in total over 250 majors and programs, including 160 at the graduate level. Graduate engineering programs offered by the Department of Civil Engineering within the College of Engineering (CoE) include the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) — which is one of 70 online programs that K-State offers. Areas of civil engineering specialization available are: Transportation, Environmental, Structural, Geotechnical, Water Resources. This is a 30-credit online program designed for working professionals. Courses are fully online, and there is only an on-campus oral examination to conclude the program. An accredited bachelor’s in civil engineering is a requirement for admission.
- In-state: $9,670
- Out-of-state: $21,828
- #students: 23779
- #grads: 4307
- Distance ed: 32%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Huntsville, Alabama
University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH, est. 1950) is a public institution and a member of the University of Alabama System. Both Brookings Institution and PayScale.com ranked UAH #1 in the state for best return on investment, while U.S. News & World Report has ranked the graduate engineering program in the top 100 nationally over multiple years, as well as other non-engineering programs. Notable UAH alumni include science fiction author Travis Taylor and entrepreneur John Hendricks, founder of Discovery Communication, amongst others.
UAH offers bachelor’s through doctorate level programs, plus certificate programs — around 90 degree programs in over 100 areas of study in total. Graduate engineering programs include the hybrid online Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) with a major in Civil Engineering — delivered by the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) within the College of Engineering. Students can choose between a Thesis or Non-Thesis option. The first requires 24 credits of coursework plus six credits for a thesis (defended in person). The second option consists of solely of 30 credits of coursework and a final exam (comprehensive). Note: Check the Web site or with the department to determine which courses are available online.
- In-state: $9,834
- Out-of-state: $21,830
- #students: 8468
- #grads: 1961
- Distance ed: 40%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Gainesville, Florida
University of Florida (UF, est. 1853) is a member of the public State University System of Florida. The university’s faculty collectively brings in over $700M in yearly research dollars, and both the Department of Coastal and Civil Engineering (CCE) and the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (HWCoE) are highly ranked, with the former being in the top 10 nationally, and the latter being #1 statewide (top 25 nationally) as per U.S. News & World Report (USNWR), which also ranked the online graduate engineering program #16 amongst Publics, and #5 and #6. Overall, USNWR ranked UF #9 in their top-10 best public research universities – a first on this list for Florida institutions. Other non-engineering topics also ranked, including the MBA and Online MBA programs, which appeared on lists by USNWR 2018, Financial Times 2018, Princeton Review 2018, Bloomberg Businessweek 2017, The Economist 2017. Forbes magazine ranked UF in their Best Value Colleges list (#3 2018 plus top #5 in other years), and similarly, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranked UF in the Best College Values 2018 Publics list (#1 statewide, #2 nationwide; top 10 publics since 2005). Other rankings include those from Sierra Club (Cool Schools #55 2015 for sustainability/ green consciousness), Washington Monthly and others. Notable UF alumni include Academy, Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award winning actress Faye Dunaway, numerous successful College of Engineering (CoE) graduates — many of whom are educators, department heads or deans, entrepreneurs, C-level executives, government officials, etc., and many others.
UF offers associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs include the online EDGE (Electronic Delivery of Graduate Engineering) Master of Engineering (ME) and Master of Science (MS) in General Civil Engineering. The online master’s degree programs are delivered by the aforementioned CCE department within the HWCoE, using Canvas, streaming video and other technologies. UF’s EDGE program courses offer the choice of online (video streaming) or distance education (via DVDs), plus other course materials. Both the ME and MS can be taken without a concentration, or with one of four options: Geographic Information Systems; Hydrologic Sciences; Structural Engineering; Wetland Sciences. The MS has a thesis while the ME requires completion of a report. The timeline is a minimum of two years. Note that some courses are only offered in certain semesters.
- In-state: $10,770
- Out-of-state: $27,335
- #students: 52367
- #grads: 17813
- Distance ed: 43%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Knoxville, Tennessee
University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UT, est. 1794) is a high-research member of the public University of Tennessee System. The campus is a 45-minute drive from a national park (Great Smoky Mountains) and close to Knoxville’s downtown-bounded Urban Wilderness historic preserve, which has parks, trails, forests and more for those who enjoy the great outdoors – whether biking, hiking, walking, etc. The surroundings and sustainability initiatives on campus have earned UT several related rankings including: #1 in 2017 nationally in the EPA’s list of top green power users in the higher education institution category (US Environmental Protection Agency); a spot on Princeton Review’s Guide to 375 Green Colleges (as well as spots in other lists for Best Southeastern College, best undergraduate schools and more. In past years, Forbes Magazine ranked UT as one of America’s Best Colleges. U.S. News & World Report ranked UT in their 2019 report on public graduate schools, which includes UT’s Tickle College of Engineering (TCoE), reaching #29 (up from #33 in the 2018 list), and also the graduate Civil Engineering program at #43. Both grad and undergrad Civil Eng programs ranked in previous years, as did TCoE, and UT (top public universities 2018 – #46 undergrad category). Additional institutional and topical rankings include those from: Bloomberg BusinessWeek (2017 top 30 best public business schools); InformationWeek; Washington Monthly. UT has had no fewer than 10 graduates who are NASA astronauts, and notable alumni and faculty have earned various academic awards, including Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes, and the Rhodes scholarship. Other notable alumni are numerous and are involved in many fields. Just a few include; finance TV host Dave Ramsey; Alex Haley (novelist); Al Gore (former US Vice President) and his father; Peyton Manning (quarterback) and others.
UTK offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees plus certificate programs — with over 900 programs in total. Graduate engineering programs include the partially online Master of Science in Civil Engineering, delivered by the Tickle College of Engineering (TCoE). Graduate students choose between Public Works or Transportation concentrations, which are the only two of five options available online. The program is designed to accomodate both working professionals and traditional graduate students, and includes an internship experience local to a distance student.
- In-state: $11,044
- Out-of-state: $29,232
- #students: 28052
- #grads: 5913
- Distance ed: 17%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Louisville, Kentucky
A member of the Kentucky State University System, University of Louisville (UofL, est. 1798) is a public institution originally founded as a seminary, and now serving students on three campuses and online. The university is a Military Friendly School (Victory Media) and ranked a Best Colleges for Veterans (U.S. News & World Report – USNWR), and is a MacArthur Award winner for its ROTC program. UofL, which ranks in multiple lists for business and entrepreneurship programs (Princeton Review, Entrepreneur magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, etc.), offers a dual MBA and Master of Engineering degree program, through the colleges of Business and Engineering. USNWR ranked the latter college (amongst others) for its graduate education program. Notable Louisville alumni include Sue Grafton, author of the popular Kinsey Millhone Alphabet detective fiction novel series (“A is for Alibi,” … “Y is for Yesterday”), and who passed away in Dec 2017.
UofL offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs include the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), delivered by the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies. (An MEng CivEng degree is available and offered only as part of an on-campus dual bachelor’s/ master’s degree program.) The program is fully online and consists of 30 credit hours (10 courses, including 12 c.h. in elective courses), and students select one of two civil engineering sub-disciplines: Facilities or Public Works. While many students in this program work full-time or actively serve as military personnel, the program can actually be completed within three semesters full-time. Note that some courses are offered only in certain semesters. A 6-credit thesis option (in lieu of two courses) is available to students planning to subsequently enter a doctorate of civil engineering program. A GRE score and a bachelor of science in civil engineering are requirements for admission. Students are matched with an academic advisor to guide them, and have access to a career service center.
- In-state: $12,246
- Out-of-state: $25,486
- #students: 21578
- #grads: 5752
- Distance ed: 16%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Columbia, South Carolina
University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC, est. 1801) is a member of the public University of South Carolina System. USC has numerous #1 rankings for topical and institutional categories from the likes of U.S. News & World Report (USNWR), Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Financial Times, as well as for faculty research productivity statewide. Both Kiplinger’s and Princeton view ranked USC a Best Value Public College, and the university is in the top 100 worldwide for the number of utility patents granted. The College of Engineering and Computing is #36 nationally for online graduate engineering education. The university has other rankings (institutional and topical non-engineering) from the likes of Washington Monthly, Forbes Princeton Review and more. Some notable alumni from USC include Leeza Gibbons (TV host) and Hootie and the Blowfish band members.
USC offers bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus online certificate programs. The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) calls their distance delivery offering APOGEE (A Program of Graduate Engineering Education), and class content is available via streaming video. Graduate engineering programs include the online Master of Science (MS) and Master of Engineering (ME) in Civil Engineering (CE). Both programs require a minimum of 30 credit hours, though six of those credits are for an MS thesis. For the ME, students choose between two courses or an ME project (six credits in either case). Students in either program can further focus in one of a number of civil engineering sub-disciplines.
- In-state: $12,398
- Out-of-state: $27,008
- #students: 34099
- #grads: 8543
- Distance ed: 30%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Charlottesville, Virginia
University of Virginia (UVA, est. 1819) is a public institution founded by Thomas Jefferson about a decade after his term as U.S. President, who was also instrumental to the existence of the American Declaration of Independence (both as primary author and a signer). The university has ranked highly in recent years in the category of public universities/ colleges, including a #3 spot in a U.S. News & World Report (USNWR, Best Public University 2018, plus #2 Best Value Public University 2018) list, a #3 spot in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s “Best Public College Value 2018” list, and a #7 spot in Money Magazine’s 2018 edition of Best Public Colleges. Another USNWR list ranked UVA amongst the Best Online Engineering Programs in multiple years, include #1 statewide and #12 nationally for graduate online engineering. Female students make up a greater percentage (34% class of 2021) of engineering undergrads at UVA than the national average of 19% (as per the NSF). This is in part due to an initiative to attract more women to UVA engineering programs — an initiative which earned UVA Engineering leader Pamela Norris a national award for her 22-year contribution (a Distinguished Engineering Educator Award from the Society of Women Engineers). The School of Engineering earn a #15 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 list of top online graduate engineering programs — a rise of nearly 40 positions since 2014. (Other UVA grad schools also ranked.) UVA’s faculty have collectively earned over two dozen each of Guggenheim and Fulbright fellows, plus Sloan, Packard Foundation, and Nobel prizes, amongst others. Other notable alumni include Kathryn Thornton (astronaut, professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science); novelist Edgar Allan Poe; painter Georgia O’Keeffe; politician brothers Robert F. and Ted Kennedy; and many more.
UVA offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs include the online Master of Engineering with a Civil Engineering focus, consisting of a minimum 10 courses/ 30 credit hours. It is offered through the Civil and Environmental Engineering department within the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the GRE score requirement may be waived for qualified students who make the request. Note: UVA is part of a joint effort in engineering education called the Online Graduate Engineering Consortium (OGEC), also referred to as the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program (CGEP). CGEP master’s degree programs in engineering cater particularly to working professionals who have a bachelor’s degree in engineering and want to continue working while studying. Classes are both on-campus and streamed real-time, as well as recorded for later viewing. Engineering schools from five universities participate in this graduate program: UVA, George Mason, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion, Virginia State, Virginia Commonwealth). CGEP allows UVA engineering grad students to complete their master’s degree with online courses from UVA (minimum 5 of 10 courses), and to transfer in up to 15 credits (5 courses) from the other four participating universities.
- In-state: $15,026
- Out-of-state: $25,168
- #students: 23898
- #grads: 7567
- Distance ed: 13%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Seattle, Washington
University of Washington-Seattle Campus (UW, est. 1861) is a public institution with an award-winning faculty (seven Nobel Prizes) and a student body that is #2 (large schools category) in the Peace Corps’ Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities 2018 list. Other academic awards earned include Fulbright Scholarships (#2 nationally), Sloan, MacArthur, and several others. The university is #1 nationally in the Publics category for “federal research and training funding,” and ranked #7 in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance report (300 Best College Values 2018). UW received a Green Rating of 99 for 2017 from Princeton Review (Green Honor Roll) for sustainability. Collectively, students and faculty have received patents and launched nearly 300 startups, including in engineering disciplines. The majority of the engineering departments at UW are highly ranked in various 3rd party reports, including #16 spot for civil engineering (2018, graduate, U.S. News & World Report — USNWR). USNWR also ranked UW in their Best Global Universities report with a #2 nationally (Publics) and a #10 globally — putting them in a tied spot with the likes of Yale and Johns Hopkins. Other ranking sources include: Washington Monthly; Center for World University Rankings (#25 2017); Academic Ranking of World Universities 2017; Reuters (#7 in top 100 most innovative universities – global); MONEY magazine (#13 Best Colleges for Your Money 2017); Fiske Guide to Colleges (Best Buys 2018); New York Times College Access Index. Notable UW alumni include comedian/ TV host Joel McHale and martial arts legend Bruce Lee (deceased), amongst several others.
UW offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs include the 42-credit online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), delivered by the College of Engineering/ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Students can select a Research/ Thesis or Non-thesis track, with the latter typically taking less time — a range of 1-3 years. (Students planning on later taking a PhD should choose the thesis track.) There are two specialty areas online (with four more on-campus only): Construction Engineering (CE), Energy Infrastructure (EI, Fall 2018).
- In-state: $15,207
- Out-of-state: $27,255
- #students: 45591
- #grads: 14658
- Distance ed: 8%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Champaign, Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, est. 1867) is part of the public University of Illinois System. UIUC enjoys dozens of milestones that include the creation of the first graphical Web browser (Netscape), as well as discoveries, invention and innovations in numerous fields – computer-based education devices, lasers, magnetic imaging, to list a few. Faculty have earned Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes, Fields Medals (Math), and others. A high-research university, UIUC has been number one for funding from National Science Foundation for multiple consecutive years, and ranks 5th nationally for number of doctorates earned (2015). U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) ranked UIUC’s College of Engineering (CoE) for both undergrad and graduate programs (#6 and #9, respectively), as well as various departments or programs, including the Department of Civil Engineering (#2 for both levels of programs). USNWR also ranked UIUC in their America’s Best Colleges 2018 report (#14 publics, #52 nationally). Other ranking sources include: Forbes; Washington Monthly and others. Notable UIUC alumni make up a very long list and include: Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winners; numerous entrepreneurs/ founders (Steve Chen and Jawed Karim of YouTube; Hugh Hefner of Playboy; a number of Web browser and programming language creators — Marc Andreessen/ Netscape, Joe Hewitt/ Firefox, etc.); film critic Roger Ebert; and many others.
UIUC offers bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs — over 150 programs in total. Graduate engineering programs include the 36-credit, online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE, non-thesis) — delivered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) within the College of Engineering (CoE). Students have up to five years to complete the MSCE and have customization options, including a choice of four specializations: Construction Management; Infrastructure; Structural Engineering; Transportation Engineering. The CEE is nearly as old as UIUC itself, and its graduates have worked on many important public projects including the Hoover Dam, New York subway system, San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge, amongst others.
- In-state: $15,267
- Out-of-state: $28,507
- #students: 46951
- #grads: 13019
- Distance ed: 18%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Northfield, Vermont
Norwich University (NU, est. 1819) is a private, nonprofit, military college — the oldest in the U.S. and where the ROTC/ Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program began. The university has been instrumental in building the American higher education model, and is one of the first that accepted international students, amongst other educational milestones. NU engineering graduates have helped build infrastructure in the United States, include for railroads, bridges, agriculture and more. Being a military college (deemed a Military Friendly School 2018 by Victory Media), notable NU alumni are often in the military, in key positions, but can also be found in other fields including business, law, politics and more. One alumni is Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder William Wilson.
NU offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees plus certificate programs. All of NU’s graduate programs are online (plus residency as required), and its engineering offering is limited solely to the 36-credit online Master of Civil Engineering (MCE). The MCE is offered by the country’s oldest private civil engineering college. Coursework takes as little as 18 months, and students have four track options: construction management; environmental/ water resources engineering; geotechnical engineering; structural engineering. Course topics include technical, business and management aspects of civil engineering. Classes are small and taught by faculty with industry experience. There is a residency requirement of a week, at the end of the program, to present a design and management project portfolio. No GRE/ GMAT is required for admission and there are two program start dates. This civil engineering program recently ranked in the top 25 by U.S. News & World Report.
- In-state: $17,073
- Out-of-state: $17,073
- #students: 4219
- #grads: 1067
- Distance ed: 99%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
Villanova, Pennsylvania
Villanova University (VU, est. 1842) is a private, nonprofit university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church (founded by the Order of Saint Augustine) — the oldest and largest of its type in the state. The university is a top producer of Fulbright students (#15 Research Institutions, AY 2017-18, as per U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs), and in 2014 was one of ten colleges/ universities with both Marshall and Rhodes Scholar award recipients. U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) ranked Villanova in multiple categories for their 2018 Best Colleges report, including as #46 National Universities. This is similar echoed by rankings from The Economist (#3 Best Economic Value, #31 Nationwide) and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (Best Values in Private Colleges). Engineering rankings include USNWR’s Best Online Programs Grad Engineering 2017 (#10 for student engagement, #35 overall). Villanova also ranked in multiple list for non-engineering topics including business (#1 nationally, undergrad, Bloomberg Businessweek and others). Various additional ranking sources include Princeton Review and more. Notable Villanova alumni include songwriter Don McLean of “Bye bye Miss American Pie fame, and former U.S. VP Joe Biden’s wife, Jill Biden.
Villanova offers a full range of degrees, from associate’s to doctorate level, plus certificate programs. Graduate engineering programs include the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering within the College of Engineering.. While the majority of grad students (88%) take the MSCE program part-time (approximately three years), those who take it full-time (2-3 courses per semester) are done in two years. The program is particularly designed for working students, and most but not all courses are available online. Students have a choice of four distinct tracks or a interdisciplinary option combining two of the four tracks. The four engineering sub-discipline choices are: Geotechnical; Structural; Transportation; Water Resources and Environmental. Students who take the interdisciplinary track and choose the Environmental and Water Resources tracks can choose between earning the MSCE or an MS in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering.
- In-state: $17,917
- Out-of-state: $17,917
- #students: 10842
- #grads: 3843
- Distance ed: 45%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Newark, New Jersey
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT, est. 1881) is a public institution known for its student diversity, including being #1 in the state in recent years for the number of engineering degrees awarded to both Hispanic and African-American students. Diversity in Action magazine’s readers recognized NJIT top be top ranked nationally in the category of Top Institutions of Higher Learning Dedicated to STEM Diversity. NJIT is also noted for its return on investment, ranking in the top 10% of the country and as a top four statewide, as per Bloomberg Businessweek. Payscale.com similar ranked NJIT for the best return on investment — top 1% publics, top 2% overall. Princeton Review ranked NJIT in various categories, including as a best Colleges That Pay You Back 2018, Most Wired College, etc., while U.S. News & World Report rankings include Best National Universities, Top Public Schools, and for Best Grad Schools – Civil Engineering (2016). This is just a sampling of the institutes recognitions, with more topical and institutional rankings from the likes of Forbes and Washington Monthly. One among many notable alumni is Dick Sweeney, who co-founded the Keurig coffee systems company. Other notable alumni are in fields including business, finance, and politics.
Graduate engineering programs include the 30-credit online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), delivered by the Newark College of Engineering (NCE). The program takes a minimum of 19 months, is in particular “designed for working engineers,” and builds on relevant technical, quantitative and managerial skills, amongst others. Students choose one of three specializations (each 15 credits): Construction Management; Structural Design and Construction; Transportation Engineering. Two online graduate certificate programs in CivEng are optional: Construction Management; Project Management. Credits earned from these (12cr each) can be applied towards the MSCE. Completion of the MSCE supplements the experience necessary for earning Professional Engineering (PE) licensure. (Full requirements vary by state.)
- In-state: $19,008
- Out-of-state: $28,092
- #students: 11317
- #grads: 3106
- Distance ed: 40%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Potsdam, New York
Clarkson University (CU, est. 1896), a private, nonprofit institution, was designated a Military Friendly School by Victory Media (2016) and earned a Best Colleges for Veterans ranking (2017) by U.S. News & World Report (USNWR). USNWR also ranked Clarkson as one of America’s Best Colleges 2017 – Top-Tier National University. Clarkson is ranked highly by multiple sources as being both a top college for job placement, and for return on investment/ bang for the buck: USNWR (Top 20 Best Values 2017); Princeton Review (Colleges That Pay you Back/ Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck 2017; Best 381 Colleges 2017; Top 25 for Best Career Placement 2016); Kiplinger’s (Best College Value 2017); CEOWorld Magazine (Top 100 Best Value Private Colleges in America – #77 2016); Payscale (College Salary Report 2016-2017 – Alumni Salaries – #3 statewide); Zippia (Best College for Getting a Job 2017 – New York state); Brookings Institution (top 10 universities maximizing potential career earnings). In topical rankings, Clarkson made: Forbes magazine’s Top-21 STEM Colleges 2016; USNWR’s Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs 2017 and the 2019 Graduate Civil Engineering list; and several others. A significant portion of alumni (one in five) is either an entrepreneur or executive (including CEO). Notable Clarkson alumni have found success in many fields, including Patrick Naughton, co-creator of the popular Java programming language — which is used in Web and mobile applications, as well as embedded systems in electronic components.
Clarkson offers bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, including two hybrid online options for graduate civil engineering, delivered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) within the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering. The choices are a Master of Science or a Master of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering (MSCE, ME). Students in either program choose a sub-discipline from four specialties: environmental, geotechnical, structural, water resources engineering. The MS requires coursework plus a thesis for completion – so is ideal for students planning on later pursuing a PhD. The ME is project-based and has an optional concentration in Construction Management, making for a total of three online master’s options in CivEng. Both master’s programs require a BS or BE in engineering for admission, preferably civil engineering, and both require some residency (two semesters or more). The ME has a two-year limit completion limit while the MS allows four years.
- In-state: $29,286
- Out-of-state: $29,286
- #students: 4384
- #grads: 1116
- Distance ed: 42%
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Ranking Methodology
Using data from NCES (National Center for Education Statistics), we applied the following approach:
- Find all U.S. colleges/ universities indicated in NCES as offering “distance” graduate programs in civil engineering. (NCES does not distinguish between distance and online programs.
- Manually verify all those that actually offer online or hybrid master’s degree programs in civil engineering, including sub-disciplines.
- Sort by smallest to largest average graduate in-state tuition rates (excluding fees) as per NCES data at time of publication.
- Select the 25 most affordable candidate institutions by in-state tuition.
Note: Actual cost for online students may differ based on living arrangements. Tuition is subject to change, and online programs/ courses may have fees or differences not applicable to on-campus equivalents. Some programs listed in this article require partial on-campus residency to graduate.
Related Articles:
- What are the Different Types of Bachelor’s in Engineering Degrees?
- Is Online College Affordable?
- Can I Earn a Graduate Degree Online?
- Is Financial Aid Available for Online Courses?
- How Long Does it Take to Get a Master’s Degree?
- Pros and Cons of Online School
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