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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student-teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.

Do you want to acquire a master’s degree in civil engineering but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best master’s in civil engineering programs.

What institution did we omit from this list? Leave your suggestions in the comment section below.

1. University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

What makes the master of science in civil and environmental engineering so great is the variety of programs offered within the degree. The department has seven programs within the major, including: energy, civil infrastructure and climate, engineering and project management, environmental engineering, geosystems engineering, structural engineering, mechanics and materials, systems engineering, and transportation engineering.

2. Stanford University, Stanford, CA

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has a master of science (MS) in civil and environmental engineering. Learners pursuing this master’s degree are not required to finish a thesis. They can select from any one of the following programs: atmosphere and energy, environmental engineering, sustainable design and construction, and structural engineering and geomechanics.

3. University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Through the Cockrell School of Engineering, graduate learners can select a master of science (MS) in engineering degree in civil or environmental and water resources engineering. Learners can select from the following degree options: MS thesis, MS graduate school report, MS departmental report, or MS coursework only. Regardless of which choice learners select, all are required to finish the minimum requirement of 30 credit hours to graduate. Learners can also pursue a dual degree program in engineering and public affairs.

4. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

The program in civil engineering at Purdue University is highly rated for a reason. Learners can pursue a master of science (MS) in civil engineering with a concentration in one of nine concentration areas: architectural, construction, environmental, geomatics, geotechnical, hydraulics and hydrology, materials, structural, transportation, and infrastructure systems. All learners must finish at least 30 total credit hours to obtain their degree. Graduate learners can also participate in Purdue’s cooperative education (co-op) program.

5. MIT, Cambridge, MA

MIT is a private research institution that is home to the most brilliant minds in math and science. The Institute is perennially rated among the top schools—not just in the United States—but in the world.

The master of engineering program at MIT is a nine-month degree program with the opportunity to study along individualized tracks in civil and environmental engineering. Learners can select from the following specialized tracks: environmental engineering science and structural mechanics and design.

6. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has a master of science (MS) degree in civil engineering for interested learners to pursue. Graduate learners can select to specialize in any of the following areas: construction engineering and management, environmental and water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering and materials, transportation infrastructure and systems engineering, civil infrastructure engineering, and geospatial engineering. Graduate learners may also select between a thesis or a non-thesis degree path.

7. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon has a holistic, hands-on degree program for learners who want to pursue an master’s (MS) in civil and environmental engineering with a concentration in one of the following areas: advanced infrastructure systems (AIS), environmental engineering, sustainability, and science (EESS), and mechanics materials and computing (MMC). Carnegie’s MS degree program is a full-time degree program in which learners finish semesters with a minimum of 36 units and a maximum of 48 units each semester.

8. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

The engineering school at Cornell University is rated among the top in the United States, and graduate learners focus on practice-based study. The school has a master’s program of engineering in civil and environmental engineering. Learners obtaining a master of engineering through Cornell can specialize in any one of the following areas: environmental and water resource engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural mechanics and materials, and transportation systems engineering.

9. Columbia University, New York, NY

The master of science (MS) in civil engineering and engineering mechanics at Columbia is very adaptable and includes the following concentrations: construction engineering and management, environmental engineering and water resources, forensic (structural) engineering, geotechnical engineering, engineering mechanics, and structural engineering. Graduate learners are not required to finish a thesis, but they do have the choice of obtaining a total of up to 6 points of credit on independent research.

10. University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Learners pursuing a master’s of science (MS) in civil engineering at the University of Washington can select a non-thesis or a research path. The department has master’s degree programs in six specialty areas, including: geotechnical engineering; environmental engineering; transportation engineering; hydrology and hydrodynamics; structural engineering and mechanics; and construction, energy, and sustainable infrastructure. For people in need of a more flexible degree choice, the institution has three online master’s degree programs.

11. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University has a master of science (MS) in civil engineering program. Learners can pursue this degree either on-campus or online. Specific areas of study include environmental engineering, geoenvironmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, groundwater engineering, hydrologic science and engineering, irrigation and drainage, hydraulic engineering/stream, and restoration/river mechanics.