2023 Most Affordable Online Master's Programs in Civil Engineering

Kennesaw State University is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Civil Engineering, which requires 30 credit hours. Full-time students can spend one year completing the program. The program offers thesis and non-thesis options for online students.

Kennesaw facilitates asynchronous and synchronous classes through the learning management system (LMS) called D2L Brightspace. The civil engineering program at Kennesaw covers a variety of disciplines within civil engineering, with courses such as Structural Dynamics, Transportation Planning, and Design of Wood Structures. Besides required classes, thesis students are also required to take a master’s thesis course. Potential career paths for graduates include becoming environmental engineers, structural engineers, and civil engineers.

Mississippi State University (MS State) is a public institution that offers an online Master of Science in Civil Engineering requiring 30-33 credit hours. This remote program can last one year if students maintain a full-time schedule. Additionally, the graduate degree offers seven specializations, including Construction Materials Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering.

MS State students complete coursework online through the LMS Canvas, and classes may have asynchronous or synchronous formats, depending on the professor. A master’s in civil engineering at MS State is designed to help working engineers advance their careers. Sample courses are Construction Cost Estimating, Stream Reconnaissance, and Advanced Reinforced Concrete. Thesis students must complete a peer-reviewed journal or conference paper, while students on the non-thesis track must complete an exam, project, or combination of both. Future careers are engineering managers, environmental engineers, and engineering geologists.

At Old Dominion University (ODU Global), a public institution, prospective students can pursue an online Master of Science in Civil Engineering - Coastal Engineering, which totals 30 credit hours. Students can expect to spend at least one year finishing the full-time program, but they can get a head start on their degree by enrolling in the online Coastal Engineering graduate certificate program.

ODU Global facilitates asynchronous and synchronous remote learning via Canvas. The program’s curriculum focuses on coastal engineering, specifically, which is a branch of civil engineering. Courses include Inelastic Structures, Soil Dynamics, and Transportation Safety. An oral or written comprehensive exam is required at the end of the program. Graduates may go on to pursue careers like coastal engineers, construction managers, and transportation engineers.

Colorado State University - Fort Collins (CSU Online) is a public institution offering an online Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering requiring 30 credit hours. Students usually finish this graduate program online within three years. For working engineers, this program provides enough flexibility to finish coursework around their schedule.

At CSU Online, students complete coursework — which is delivered in asynchronous and synchronous formats — through the LMS Canvas. CSU's Master of Engineering provides a curriculum focused on water resources engineering and management. Some of the program’s core courses include Irrigation Water Management, Open Channel Flow, and Morphodynamic Modeling. Prospective career paths for graduates include construction estimators, civil engineers, and field operations instructors.

The University of Florida (UF) is a public institution that offers two online master’s degrees in civil engineering: (1) Master of Science in Civil Engineering (30 credit hours) and (2) Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering (30 credit hours). Both programs offer four concentrations online: (1) Geographic Information Systems, (2) Hydrologic Science, (3) Wetland Sciences, and (4) Structural Engineering.

At UF Online, students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously through the digital platform Canvas. An online master’s in civil engineering gives students the advanced skills and knowledge they need to assume leadership roles within the engineering field. Sample courses are Prestressed Concrete, Wind Engineering, and Sustainable Materials. Prospective careers include urban planners, geotechnical engineers, and construction managers.