The Best Graduate Schools Offering Structural Engineering Programs
Higher Education Articles December 7, 2016Overview of Graduate Schools offering Degree Programs in Structural Engineering
Core coursework in graduate programs in structural engineering may cover classes in applied mathematics and design, in addition to providing research opportunities in various related fields, such as earthquake engineering. A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and a Master of Science (M.S.) in the field of structural engineering are available through many schools. Some schools include the University of California – San Diego, Stanford University, and the University of Texas at Austin. In this article, we take a look at some top Structural Engineering graduate schools in the United States.
Stanford University, CA
In 2011, Stanford University was ranked fifth on Forbes’s list of best colleges in the United States. The U.S. News and World Report accorded the University the second rank on its list of best graduate programs that year. MS degrees in Geomechanics and Structural Engineering are available through the school’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Individuals keen on research may choose to enroll in the Ph.D. or engineering programs where the two disciplines are available. Students will perform research in earthquake engineering, design construction integration and sensing, and health monitoring.
The University of California – San Diego in La Jolla
In 2012, the U.S. News and Report ranked the University of California – San Diego 37th on its list of best universities in the United States. In 2011, the engineering school at the University was ranked the 14th best in the nation. An MS in Structural Engineering is available at the Jacobs School of Engineering; where students are allowed to choose a concentration in health monitoring. A Ph.D. program in Structural Engineering is also available at the school. The focus of doctoral programs may cover finite elements, earthquake engineering, solid mechanics, and geo-technical engineering.
The University of Texas at Austin
In 2012, the U.S. News and Report ranked the University of Texas at Austin 45th on its list of best colleges in the United States. In 2011, the undergraduate and graduate engineering programs at the university were all ranked among the best 20 in the nation. Doctoral and master’s programs in materials and structural engineering are available through the Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department. The emphasis of structural engineering programs is in design, performance, and analysis, while that of the materials program is on forensics of construction materials, in addition to developing and restoring them.
List of Top Graduate Schools offering Structural Engineering Programs
| School Name | Tuition | Location |
| University of California — Berkeley | $11,220 per year (full-time, in-state); $26,322 per year (full-time, out-of-state) | Berkeley, CA |
| University of Illinois — Urbana-Champaign | $19,643 per year (full-time, in-state); $31,626 per year (full-time, out-of-state) | Urbana, IL |
| University of Texas — Austin (Cockrell) | $9,564 per year (full-time, in-state); $17,506 per year (full-time, out-of-state) | Austin, TX |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | $13,452 per year (full-time, in-state); $27,872 per year (full-time, out-of-state) | Atlanta, GA |
| Stanford University | $48,720 per year (full-time) | Stanford, CA |
| Purdue University — West Lafayette | $10,330 per year (full-time, in-state); $29,132 per year (full-time, out-of-state) | West Lafayette, IN |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $46,400 per year (full-time) | Cambridge, MA |
| University of Michigan — Ann Arbor | $23,504 per year (full-time, in-state); $44,216 per year (full-time, out-of-state) | Ann Arbor, MI |
| Virginia Tech | $14,900 per year (full-time, in-state); $27,980 per year (full-time, out-of-state) | Blacksburg, VA |
| Cornell University | $29,500 per year (full-time) | Ithaca, NY |
