Overview

The Civil Engineering programme at Iowa State University provides students with the technical expertise and practical skills required to design, build, and protect essential infrastructure. This curriculum integrates rigorous academic coursework with extensive hands-on laboratory experiences in fields such as soils, materials, and surveying. Students learn to create sustainable solutions for transportation systems, water treatment facilities, and advanced structures.

Why Civil Engineering at Iowa State University?

Students benefit from being part of the largest college on campus, supported by over 500 dedicated faculty and staff members. The university hosts the largest engineering career fair in the nation, connecting students with 1,400 employers annually. With a 97% placement rate within six months of graduation, the programme provides a significant competitive advantage through one-on-one career advising and extensive networking opportunities.

The learning environment is enriched by over 90 engineering student organisations and dedicated learning communities. Research-active faculty involve students in developing cutting-edge tools for structural safety, GPS soil technology, and sustainable waste treatment strategies. Furthermore, 75% of students graduate with professional work experience gained through robust internship and co-op programmes.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 15293 per semester
National fee: USD 14289 per semester
Local fee: USD 4765 per semester

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum begins with a foundational basic programme common to all engineering majors before moving into specialised areas. Modules may include:

Soils
Materials
Surveying
Environmental Engineering
Structural Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Construction Materials
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Urban Planning

Careers with Civil Engineering

Graduates are highly sought after for roles that involve designing resilient infrastructure and improving quality of life. The programme prepares students for diverse careers in the public and private sectors, with an average starting annual salary of $71,000. Alumni frequently secure positions in structural design, transportation planning, and environmental management.

Common career paths include developing sustainable construction materials, managing urban travel needs, and designing systems to protect against natural forces like earthquakes and hurricanes. The service-oriented nature of the work allows graduates to have a global impact by removing water contaminants, reducing hazardous waste, and eliminating air pollutants.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering

Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists

Calculus

Elementary Differential Equations

Geotechnical Engineering

Structural Steel Design

Civil Engineering Design

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-06-01 00:00:00 , International

More details

Iowa State operates on rolling admission. We strongly recommend that you apply at least six to eight weeks in advance.

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Ames, United States

Disciplines

Civil Engineering & Construction View 509 other Bachelors in Civil Engineering & Construction in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

ACT composite (or converted SAT) score x 3

Cumulative GPA x 30

Number of years of high school core courses x 5

RAI (Regent Admission Index)

SAT scores will be converted to their ACT composite equivalents for this calculation.

High school GPA is expressed on a 4-point scale (you can use our GPA calculator to convert your GPA if it's not on a 4.0 scale).

The number of core high school courses is measured in years or fractions of years.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

30586 USD / year

≈ 30586 USD / year
Out-of-State

28578 USD / year

≈ 28578 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

9530 USD / year

≈ 9530 USD / year

Living costs

Ames

United States

1158 - 1797 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Civil Engineering.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Ames

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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