Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

What is the application deadline?

The university Office of Admissions and the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering accept graduate student applications year-round. However, there is a priority date for consideration that is especially important to students seeking assistantships. The priority consideration date is February 1 for fall semester applications and July 1 for spring semester applications.

International applications for the fall semester that arrive at the university after April 1 will be asked to delay their admission until the spring semester. Applications for the spring semester that arrive at the university after August 1 will be asked to delay their admission until the next fall semester.

Can I mail or express deliver all application materials in one package to the CCEE department?

No. Please mail materials to the Office of Admissions and the CCEE department as outlined on the Graduate Application Process Web page. The CCEE department does not need copies of transcripts. For more information on how to apply see the Office of Admission's international application (PDF) and domestic application (PDF) rules for applying.

What is the minimum test score I can have and still be admitted to your program?

The CCEE department takes into account your total application package, including your GPA, GRE scores, TOEFL score, letters of recommendation, transcripts, statement of purpose, and resume when considering you for admission. 

GRE Guidelines

The CCEE department’s GRE scores are guidelines. If you have one GRE score below the department’s guideline, your application will still be considered for admission review, but your other GRE scores should not be below the guidelines. 

A graduate applicant who has not earned his or her four-year bachelor's or a master's degree from a U.S. university accredited by the American Board of Engineering and Technology must submit Graduate Records Examination (GRE) scores. GRE minimum score guidelines are: 400 Verbal, 700 Quantitative, and 4.0 Analytical Writing.

TOEFL Minimum Requirement

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) may be waived for students who have received a four-year bachelor's or a master's degree from an accredited university in the United States or from a country where English is the only official language.

The CCEE department’s minimum TOEFL requirement is: TOEFL-iBT 82, TOEFL-cBT 213, or TOEFL-pBT 550. If your score is below this level your application will not be considered for admission to the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Department. Take your TOEFL exam at least three months before you apply. If you take the IELTS instead of the TOEFL, the application requirement is 6.5.

What kind of financial aid is available for graduate students?

Financial aid in the form of teaching and research assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships is available for qualified applicants who are admitted to the graduate program. Competition for financial aid is intense and award decisions are based on careful evaluation of all the applicants who have been admitted to and started the graduate program.

Can you tell me what my financial aid will be before I accept my offer of admission?

No. Financial assistantships are usually considered after an applicant has been admitted to and started the graduate program at Iowa State University.

Am I guaranteed admission to your graduate program if I meet or exceed your program's guidelines?

Applicants with records or scores that meet or exceed these guidelines are not guaranteed admission.

When will I find out if I have been admitted to your graduate program?

Graduate admission applications take several months to process, especially during peak application periods (December through March). 

Keep in mind that the university cannot begin processing your application until it is complete.

We regret that due to the high volume of materials received in our office, we do not send acknowledgment of receipt of applications or supporting materials. However, if necessary academic records (and TOEFL, if required) are not received within a reasonable time after your application is received, you will be sent an e-mail notifying you that your application is incomplete.

If you would like to check the status of your application online, visit www.admissions.iastate.edu/forms/statuscheck/gr_statuscheck.php. We ask for your patience as we complete our processing.

For additional information help with your application, please see "How to Apply" on the Office of Admission's website.