Bachelor of Science [BS] (Civil Engineering)
Field of Study:
$17,478 /Yr
University of California, Berkeley Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is a four-year, in-person degree in Berkeley for students completing secondary school. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 first-year billed costs were US$62,800 (INR 59.77 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.
The ABET-accredited curriculum prepares students to analyse infrastructure through mechanics, materials, fluids, data and sustainable systems before completing project management and capstone design. It best fits applicants with strong mathematics and physics preparation who want breadth before selecting civil engineering applications and extensions electives.
- Students build computational capability through data science, engineering data analysis and numerical methods alongside core civil engineering subjects.
- The programme requires at least 120 units, giving applicants a defined four-year academic plan with room for technical and free electives.
- A senior capstone connects engineering analysis with design decisions, while Engineering Project Management adds delivery and coordination skills.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are Open. International student deadline: 30 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
The deadline converts to 1 December 2026 at 1:29 p.m. IST, although Pacific Time controls the portal cutoff. Indian applicants should submit earlier because Berkeley does not offer a spring first-year intake for this degree.
Also Check: UC Berkeley Civil Engineering Admission
UC Berkeley BS Civil Engineering Fees and Living Costs 2027
Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished after checks of the current programme and student-budget surfaces. The table therefore uses Berkeley’s 2026-27 international first-year budget only as prior-cycle planning context, not as a quotation for Fall 2027.
| Prior-cycle budget item | 2026-27 amount | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| First-year billed total | US$62,800 | INR 59.77 Lakhs |
| Residence-hall living estimate | US$23,640 | INR 22.50 Lakhs |
| Calculated first-year total | US$86,440 | INR 82.27 Lakhs |
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.18 as of 15 June 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
Source: UC Berkeley 2026-27 student budget; the calculated total adds US$62,800 (INR 59.77 Lakhs) and US$23,640 (INR 22.50 Lakhs).
The US$86,440 (INR 82.27 Lakhs) result is a prior-cycle planning illustration for one residence-hall year. It should not be multiplied into a four-year forecast because Berkeley has not published Fall 2027 charges and annual housing choices can change.
Cost of Living in Berkeley for Civil Engineering Students
Berkeley’s 2026-27 budget distinguishes residence-hall living from an on-campus apartment, so applicants can assess accommodation without treating either estimate as tuition. Monthly figures below are calculated from the official annual amounts.
| Expense | Monthly (USD) | Monthly (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Residence hall | US$1,970 | INR 1.87 Lakhs |
| On-campus apartment | US$1,708.33 | INR 1.63 Lakhs |
| Residence-hall annual total | US$23,640 | INR 22.50 Lakhs |
| On-campus apartment annual total | US$20,500 | INR 19.51 Lakhs |
The apartment estimate is US$3,140 (INR 2.99 Lakhs) lower annually than the residence-hall estimate. Applicants should compare availability and included services before treating that difference as achievable savings.
Check Out: UC Berkeley Courses and Fees
ROI reality: The prior-cycle first-year illustration reaches INR 82.27 Lakhs. An Indian applicant therefore needs funding beyond tuition and should await the Fall 2027 budget.
UC Berkeley BS Civil Engineering Admission 2027
International first-year applicants need a completed secondary-school credential that permits university entry at home, the required subject pattern and at least a 3.4 non-resident GPA. Berkeley then applies holistic review, so meeting the floor does not establish competitiveness.
Fall 2027 is the only first-year intake for this programme. Indian applicants should align Classes 10 and 11 coursework with Berkeley’s subject expectations while keeping mathematics and laboratory science preparation visible.
| Admission factor | Published requirement or evidence | Indian applicant meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Academic minimum | 3.4 GPA for non-residents | Approximately 85% to 90%, or CGPA 8.5 to 9.0 on 10 |
| School completion | Credential permitting university admission in the home country | Class 12 completion with a recognised board credential |
| Preparation | UC subject-course pattern | Map school subjects carefully, especially mathematics, science and English |
| 2024 admitted profile | 3.89 to 4.00 unweighted GPA | Context only, approximately 95% to 100%, or CGPA 9.5 to 10 on 10 |
The Indian equivalents are approximate because Berkeley makes the official evaluation in the context of each school and board. The admitted-class range is not a cutoff, but it shows why evidence beyond the 3.4 minimum matters.
English Language Proficiency
Applicants educated where English is not the language of instruction must demonstrate proficiency by December of their final school year. Berkeley’s current page sets a campus-specific TOEFL minimum above the general UC floor.
| Route | Current minimum | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 90 or 4.5 | Use the scale reported for the test date |
| IELTS | 6.5 overall | One Skill Retake is not accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 | Complete by December of the final school year |
| IB English Language A | 6 or 7 at Standard Level | May satisfy proficiency without a separate test |
- Applicants choosing TOEFL after January 2026 should verify whether their score report uses the 1.0 to 6.0 scale before submission.
- IELTS offers a clear route for Indian applicants, but the required 6.5 is an overall threshold rather than a published competitive target.
- Students using school English should confirm that their specific curriculum and result meet an accepted exemption route before relying on it.
Score verification
The TOEFL scale changed in 2026, so applicants should compare their test date and score format with Berkeley’s international requirements page before reporting results.
Tip for Indian students: Treat 3.4 as an eligibility floor, then use strong mathematics, science and course rigor to support Civil Engineering fit within holistic review.
UC Berkeley BS Civil Engineering Application 2027
The Fall 2027 application closes on 30 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. This is 1 December 2026 at 1:29 p.m. IST, but the Pacific Time deadline governs acceptance.
Berkeley offers no spring first-year entry for Civil Engineering, so missing this filing window means waiting for a later fall cycle. The course page publishes no separate Civil Engineering interview or decision date.
| Fall 2027 stage | Published deadline | IST conversion |
|---|---|---|
| UC application submission | 30 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT | 1 December 2026, 1:29 p.m. IST |
A credible application should connect academic preparation to the programme’s required sequence in calculus, physics, materials and data analysis. Personal Insight Questions should then show how the applicant has used that preparation to examine infrastructure, sustainability or community problems.
- Map Class 10 and 11 subjects to the UC pattern before entry because missing coursework can make an otherwise strong application ineligible.
- Use activities and projects to demonstrate sustained civil engineering interest instead of repeating grades already visible in the academic record.
- Complete English testing by December of the final school year, while submitting the UC application before the Pacific Time portal cutoff.
The capstone and applications-elective structure makes specificity valuable: an applicant can identify a real infrastructure question without claiming a fixed specialisation. That approach shows informed fit while preserving the breadth expected at undergraduate level.
Application action
Use the official UC application and aim to finish before 30 November 2026, allowing time to resolve payment or transcript-entry issues.
Application tip: Because Fall is the only first-year intake, verify the subject pattern first and make every application response support readiness for Berkeley’s technical curriculum.
UC Berkeley BS Civil Engineering Scholarships 2027
No Fall 2027 Civil Engineering scholarship amount or deadline is published in the verified funding record. Applicants should therefore build the initial affordability decision without assuming a tuition reduction or converting an unconfirmed percentage into savings.
This funding uncertainty matters because the prior-cycle first-year planning illustration was US$86,440 (INR 82.27 Lakhs). A scholarship should reduce the funding gap only after Berkeley confirms its value, eligibility conditions and disbursement timing in writing.
How Indian Applicants Should Build a Funding Plan
Start with funds that do not depend on admission, then separate confirmed family resources, education loans and external awards. This order prevents an unpublished Berkeley award from becoming the assumption that makes the budget appear affordable.
- Keep an award register with value, nationality eligibility, application route and deadline, but count only offers documented for the applicant’s intake.
- Check whether an external award permits undergraduate study in the United States and whether it can be combined with university funding.
- Retain liquidity for the first-year funding evidence because a later reimbursement cannot satisfy an earlier visa-document requirement.
Course choice also affects the funding case because Civil Engineering requires a sequenced four-year plan and a senior capstone. Applicants should test whether their funding remains viable across all four years without assuming accelerated completion.
Read More: UC Berkeley Scholarship Options
Funding limit
Until a Fall 2027 award is confirmed, compare the full cost against secured resources and preserve a contingency for annual fee and housing changes.
Scholarship reality: No verified Fall 2027 award currently closes the funding gap, so the admission decision should remain viable at the gross published cost once released.
UC Berkeley BS Civil Engineering Salary 2027
Berkeley has not published a current Civil Engineering salary or offer rate for this bachelor’s cohort. The closest official evidence is the US$120,000 (INR 1.14 Crore) median for 2024 Berkeley Engineering undergraduates entering work.
That College-wide measure covers multiple engineering majors and cannot be presented as Civil Engineering starting pay. The 2024-25 College record reports 91 Civil Engineering bachelor’s degrees, establishing cohort size but not employment probability.
| Evidence scope | Published outcome | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| College-level, 2024 workforce entrants | US$120,000 median starting salary | INR 1.14 Crore |
| Civil Engineering, 2024-25 graduates | 91 bachelor’s degrees | Not monetary |
Source: Berkeley Engineering undergraduate programme brochure and 2024-25 facts record.
Return on Investment for Indian Students
The prior-cycle first-year planning cost is US$86,440 (INR 82.27 Lakhs), while the target-cycle cost and Civil Engineering salary remain unpublished. This evidence gap makes a numeric payback forecast unreliable.
- The College-wide US$120,000 (INR 1.14 Crore) median is gross pay, so model take-home income with the work location’s tax calculator before estimating repayment.
- The four-year, 120-unit curriculum limits acceleration, so secure funding for the normal duration rather than relying on an early-graduation saving.
- The 36-month potential STEM work window can support experience, but applicants should test loan payments against the first 12 months of standard OPT.
- An India-return plan should use Indian civil engineering compensation for the intended role, not Berkeley Engineering’s United States College-wide median.
The programme’s breadth supports infrastructure, structural, transportation and environmental pathways through elective choice, but employer access is not a placement guarantee. Students should use capstone work and internships to create role-specific evidence before graduation.
Check Out: UC Berkeley University Profile
ROI reality: The College-wide salary benchmark is encouraging but does not resolve Civil Engineering pay or Fall 2027 cost, so evaluate affordability without assuming that median.
US Visa for UC Berkeley BS Civil Engineering Students 2027
Admitted Indian students normally use the F-1 student visa, then may seek OPT (Optional Practical Training) for 12 months. Civil Engineering’s STEM classification can support a further 24-month extension when the graduate and employer meet programme rules.
- The combined OPT possibility is 36 months, but the extension depends on qualifying employment and does not itself confer permanent residence.
- The cached H-1B eligibility benchmark is US$60,000 (INR 57.11 Lakhs), yet sponsorship also depends on the role, employer and prevailing-wage rules.
- An F-2 spouse may accompany the student, but the family should verify current work and study restrictions before including spousal earnings in the budget.
- Employment-based permanent residence is a separate employer-led pathway with no guaranteed timeline, so OPT should not be treated as automatic settlement.
Visa verification
Confirm the current STEM extension and employer requirements on the USCIS OPT page before making a post-study employment plan.
Visa reality: The potential 36-month work window improves experience-building time, but applicants must fund the degree without assuming H-1B sponsorship or permanent residence.
UC Berkeley BS Civil Engineering Ranking 2027
UC Berkeley’s undergraduate Civil Engineering programme is No. 1 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News programme ranking. It moved from No. 2 in the 2025 edition on the same published ranking series.
The ranking is discipline-specific and therefore relevant to this degree, unlike an overall university position. However, it measures programme reputation and related indicators rather than an individual student’s salary or admission probability.
| Edition | Scope | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | U.S. undergraduate Civil Engineering | 1 |
| 2025 | U.S. undergraduate Civil Engineering | 2 |
Applicants can use the result as evidence of disciplinary standing, then test personal fit against the actual curriculum. The required data, mechanics and capstone sequence is more consequential for readiness than the movement between ranking editions.
Read More: UC Berkeley Rankings
Key insight: The No. 1 discipline rank supports programme visibility, but applicants should choose Berkeley only if its broad technical sequence and substantial funding requirement fit their plan.
UC Berkeley’s Civil Engineering B.S. best fits applicants who want broad technical preparation before shaping a pathway through applications electives and capstone design. Its ABET accreditation and No. 1 discipline rank strengthen academic fit, while neither guarantees employment. The material tradeoff is an unconfirmed Fall 2027 price against a prior-cycle first-year illustration of US$86,440 (INR 82.27 Lakhs). Applicants should verify affordability and subject eligibility before submitting by 30 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
UC Berkeley BS Civil Engineering FAQs
Ques. Is UC Berkeley Civil Engineering worth its cost for an Indian student?
Ans. It can fit students who value the 120-unit technical sequence, ABET accreditation and capstone, but Fall 2027 tuition remains unpublished. Affordability should work without assuming the College-wide US$120,000 (INR 1.14 Crore) salary median applies to Civil Engineering.
Ques. How competitive is admission to UC Berkeley Civil Engineering?
Ans. The 3.4 non-resident GPA is only an eligibility floor, while the 2024 admitted-class range was 3.89 to 4.00. Applicants should demonstrate demanding mathematics and science preparation plus a sustained reason for choosing infrastructure-focused study.
Ques. What should an Indian applicant budget for the first year?
Ans. The 2026-27 prior-cycle illustration totals US$86,440 (INR 82.27 Lakhs) with residence-hall living. Wait for the Fall 2027 budget, then replace every prior-cycle component before finalising loan and visa funding documents.
Ques. Can scholarships make UC Berkeley Civil Engineering affordable?
Ans. No verified Fall 2027 course-specific amount currently supports that assumption. Count a scholarship only after its value, eligibility, deadline and payment timing are confirmed for the applicant’s intake.
Ques. How should students connect the degree to US employment?
Ans. Use applications electives, capstone work and internships to build evidence for a defined civil engineering role. The potential 36-month STEM work window provides time, but qualifying employment and sponsorship remain separate requirements.
Important Alert
- Application Deadline for 2027 Intake - Dec 1, 2026
Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $17478 |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Living Expenses | $22398 |
| Health Insurance | $4858 |
Important Dates
Application Deadline is Based on Previous year.
| Event | Application Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline for 2027 Intake | Dec 1, 2026 |
Scores Required


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TOP Scholarships
| Scholarship name | Award amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
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Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific | |
| Comindware Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 4,000/Yr$4,000 | Level Of StudyApprenticeship | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific | |
| Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$ 10,000/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Axol Science Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 2,000/Yr$2,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCompany-Sponsored | |
| VueVille Future Technology Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,000/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
Similar Programs
| Program | Important Date | Total Fees | Median Exams Score | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
-- | USD 64,730 /Yr |
| ||
| USD 68,000 /Yr |
| |||
-- | USD 17,478 /Yr |
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