Experience the excellence and prestige of Purdue University's online Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) — delivering the same faculty expertise, rigorous courses and respected degree as our on-campus program, with the flexibility of completing your studies 100% online.

Civil engineering spans a diverse set of disciplines, and Purdue's faculty continually evolves the curriculum to reflect the emerging needs of a rapidly changing field. The online MSCE empowers professional engineers to expand their expertise through three interdisciplinary tracks: Infrastructure, Resiliency and Sustainability; Sustainable Water; and Smart Mobility. Interdisciplinary training has been shown to enhance collaboration, strengthen problem-solving and open the door to a broad range of career opportunities.

Ranked the No. 2 online civil engineering graduate program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for five consecutive years (2021-2025), Purdue's online MSCE is designed to accelerate your career. Whether your interests center on structural or infrastructure engineering, advanced transportation technologies or hydrology and hydraulics, the curriculum is built to support your professional goals and long-term aspirations.

Now is the ideal moment to advance your expertise. With rising national demand for civil engineers driven by major infrastructure investments, Purdue's online MSCE offers the opportunity to take your next giant leap.

Supporting Your Path Toward Professional Engineering (PE) Licensure

Purdue's online MSCE strengthens the advanced technical knowledge directly reflected on the Professional Engineer (PE) exam — helping you build the foundation needed for licensure and career advancement. Coursework across structural, transportation, water, geotechnical and construction engineering deepens analytical skills and reinforces the problem-solving abilities essential for exam readiness.

Civil engineering disciplines consistently report higher first-attempt PE pass rates compared with the broader engineering profession, including:

  • Construction Engineering: 53%
  • Geotechnical Engineering: 52%
  • Structural Engineering: 59%
  • Transportation Engineering: 67%

The online MSCE equips students with the technical depth, confidence and preparation required as they pursue professional licensure and long-term advancement in the field.

Curriculum

30 credit hours are required to complete the online MSCE.

  • Must include at least 15 credit hours of core CE graduate level courses (50000 level and above)
  • Strongly suggest 6 credit hours of applied math and/or statistics courses from approved list
  • The balance of the 30 required credits can be technical electives. These can be additional CE graduate-level courses or graduate-level courses from outside CE, for example: ME, ECE, etc., as approved by the student's advisor.

Additional curriculum information:

Students can select one of three theme areas to focus on one Civil Engineering area:

  • Construction Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering (more info coming soon)
  • Structural Engineering (more info coming soon)

Or one of the below interdisciplinary civil engineering tracks or build a plan of study to incorporate multiple areas:

Within these tracks, learners will be exposed to concepts in environmental engineering, hydraulic/hydrologic engineering, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, construction engineering, transportation engineering, geomatics engineering, architectural engineering and materials engineering.

student working on coursework

Prerequisites

Math Background:
3 semesters of Calculus, Differential Equations & Linear Algebra

Engineering Background:
Preferred undergraduate background in Engineering, Physical Sciences or a related field. Other course prerequisites may apply.

Requirements

  • Transcripts from all universities attended
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • A statement of purpose
  • A professional resume
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only)
  • Full admissions requirements

    • Deadlines

    Spring
    December 1

    Summer
    April 1

    Fall
    July 15

    Tuition

  • $950 per credit hour
  • $28,500 program total

    • Domestic students and permanent residents may qualify for the following types of financial aid:

  • US federal financial aid
  • Military, veterans, and military-connected students
    • * The cost of attending Purdue varies depending on where you choose to live, enrollment in a specific program or college, food and travel expenses, and other variables. The Office of the Bursar website shows estimated costs for the current aid year for students by semester and academic year. These amounts are used in determining a student’s estimated eligibility for financial aid. You can also use our tuition calculator to estimate tuition costs.

    Student Testimonial

    Allen Baker, MSCE graduate

    online master's program graduate Allen Baker

    What made you interested in going back to school for a civil engineering master's? 

    After a long career as a pilot, I wasn't quite ready to retire completely. Before I started my piloting career, I graduated college with a major in civil engineering, and my interest in the field always stuck with me. In my pilot career, I was able to travel all around the world, and because of my civil engineering training, I was always paying attention to the infrastructure all around me. I couldn't take it for granted. That's what made me start thinking about going back to school for a master's in civil engineering.

    Why did you choose civil engineering as your post-piloting career?

    There's never been a better time to pursue a civil engineering career. Our old structures are crumbling, and there are so many new materials that we can use to build better infrastructure.

    MORE STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

    FAQs

    You would earn a Master of Science in Civil Engineering. It is the same degree awarded to our on-campus students.
    You need to register for at least one credit to be considered an active student. If you do not enroll for more than two consecutive semesters, you will lose your student status and must reapply.
    No, all courses are not available every term. Most will be offered once a year. We are still finalizing our offer schedule: you can find the tentative schedule at: https://engineering.purdue.edu/CE/Academics/Graduate/Online/curriculum-map.
    The program requires 30 credits. You may complete the MSCE program as a full time or part time student. A full-time student takes at least 8 semester credit hours every term and may be able to complete this program within 12 to 18 months. A part time student takes less than 8 semester credit hours every term (on average 3-6).  As a part-time student, you may complete the program within 2 to 4 years. The average time to complete the program is 3 years
    You may take a maximum of two consecutive semesters off. If you take more than two semesters, you will need to re-enroll in the program

     

    We suggest that you try to get at least one academic reference. If that is not possible, recommendations from employers will be accepted.

    The courses will be offered asynchronously. We upload recordings of live lectures for you to view on your time. You will follow along weekly to complete your assignments, projects, and/or exams. Exams may require a proctor (virtual or in-person depending on the faculty).

    Scholarships and funding are not available through Purdue as this program is a course-based, self-funded master's program. U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible for federal financial aid. The Purdue Division of Financial Aid can answer your questions. Veterans can visit the Dorothy Stratton Veteran and Miltary Success Center to learn more about wrap-around support services for Purdue students who are veterans, members of the military, or benefit-using family members.

    Math Prerequisites: To be admitted, students must have completed 3 total semesters of calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. Representative coursework that a Purdue undergraduate engineering students would take includes (each of these are 16-week courses): - MA261, Multivariate Calculus - MA262, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations. While most graduate level courses do not have specific prerequisites other than the math courses described above, it will be helpful to have foundational knowledge in the following: Statics, Dynamics, and Fluid Mechanics.
    Yes, students will have access through the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities (CCO). More information on career services and resources is available at https://engineering.purdue.edu/ProEd/student-resources/things-to-know-for-online-learning
    The Purdue University College of Engineering allows up to 6 credit hours of graduate coursework to be transferred into the Master of Science in Civil Engineering program. The credits are eligible to be transferred if they meet the following requirements: have not been used towards another degree and you achieved a B or better in the course. Transfer credit is evaluated by a committee within CE as part of the plan of study process.