Graduate Application Information

The CCEE department has a rolling admissions process, meaning applications are reviewed throughout the year. However, for the best chance at getting your application reviewed for your chosen term, the following application deadlines apply:

1. On-campus programs, MS & PhD, first consideration for assistantships:
   • December 15, for fall semester of the following year.
     • Application must be complete with all documents (especially LOR’s) by January 15
   • August 1, for the next spring semester.
     • Application must be complete with all documents (especially LOR’s) by September 1

Completing the Application:

1. Link: ISU Admissions Graduate Application.
   • In the Additional Information section, carefully review instructions that pertain to your status.
2. Carefully review ISU Admissions Graduate Application Instructions.  CCEE-specific explanations are below:
3. When you are ready, click CREATE ACCOUNT.
4. Choose the Graduate Degree-Seeking Application.
   • REMEMBER: this is the official admissions application!
   • DO NOT skip any sections.
   • Enter information that best represents your background.
5. Application choices:
   • Degrees Sought:
     • MS (Master of Science)
       • Thesis (research track, is considered for assistantship)
       • Creative Component (non-research track, not considered for assistantship)
     • M ENGR (Master of Engineering)
       • Coursework only, non-research, not considered for assistantship
     • PhD
     • CERT Graduate Certificate
       • Not full degree program, not funded
6. Major (for all degree programs): Civil Engineering
   • Choose your specialization area. The application will allow you only one choice. Be sure you identify the area you are most interested in, as your application will be considered by faculty from that area.
     • Civil Engineering Materials
     • Construction Engineering and Management
     • Environmental Engineering (Water resources is included in this area)
     • Geotechnical Engineering
     • Transdisciplinary Infrastructure Engineering (MS/Thesis and PHD only)
     • Structural Engineering
     • Transportation Engineering
   • Identify if you are interested in a distance (online only) or an on-campus program.
     • Note: Distance programs are M ENGR only
7. Research Interests and Faculty Interests –
   • Research Interests – type in the kinds of research you are most interested in.
   • Faculty Interest – type in the names of faculty you are interested in working with. Refer to CCEE Graduate Application FAQ’s>”Do I need major professor” for the correct faculty to enter for this question.
8. Assistantship check boxes
   • On the application, use the check boxes for Teaching, Research, or Both to indicate that you want to be considered for assistantships. There is not a separate assistantship application.
9. Pay special attention to the following:
   • Name
     • Your name must be entered (spelling and order of your name) on your application exactly as it appears on your passport, driver’s license, or social security card.
   • GPA
     • Enter your GPA and GPA scale as it appears on your transcripts.
     • Do not enter any GPA self-calculations if your GPA scale is not 4.0. ISU Admissions will conduct a full GPA evaluation.
     • ISU Admissions accepts WES or ECEE evaluations, but CCEE does not require it. If you wish to do so, refer to Admissions Application Instructions, Academic Records.
   • Transcripts
     • Upload unofficial scanned copies of academic records from your undergraduate degree, any graduate degrees, and any other diplomas or certificates.
     • International applicants:
       • Degree statements (also known as diploma) are required in addition to transcripts.
       • Transcript copies in both native language and English translation are required.
   • Exam Scores
     • Upload unofficial scanned copies of any examination results, if applicable:
       • GRE (preferred but not required)
       • English Proficiency – Refer to CCEE Graduate Application FAQ’s>”What English proficiency exams” for minimum score requirements.
10. Letters of Recommendation
    • You will be required to enter names and email addresses of 3 people who can submit LOR’s for you.
    • You must communicate with your recommenders the following:
      • They will be receiving a system-generated email request, which could go to junk mail.
      • The LOR request will contain links to an LOR form and instructions to submit.
      • Tell your recommenders they have 2 weeks to submit their form.
    • If your recommenders tell you they did not receive the LOR request, have them check junk/spam email folder.
    • If the request for the LOR is not in junk mail and cannot be found, the recommender should complete the PDF LOR FORM and send it to ccee-grad-inquiry@iastate.edu.

1. While all CCEE faculty have access to all applications, in order to appropriately review your application, a faculty committee from the focus area you indicated on your application will review your materials.
2. Admission offers are made independently of assistantship offers. This means that if you meet minimum admission requirements, you can be offered admission with or without an assistantship offer.
3. You will be notified by email from the CCEE Admissions Coordinator when faculty have made admission decisions and assistantship offers.
4. Should you be accepted for admission, official documents will be required. You will be given instructions at that time.

Important Points

• Submitting a full application, and meeting or exceeding admission requirements, are not a guarantee of admission or an offer of assistantship.
• Graduate applicants preferably should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil, construction or environmental engineering.
  • Applicants with degrees in associated disciplines, should they be accepted for admission, might be asked to complete undergrad background coursework to improve their academic preparation for graduate study. These courses will be completed in addition to all degree requirements.

If you are accepted for admission, and you choose to become and ISU student, we can finalize your admission by taking the following steps:

1. Accept your admission.
   • You will be informed by the CCEE Graduate Admissions Coordinator by email.
   • You will be directed to log into your Admissions MyAccount to accept or decline your admission offer.
   • Assistantship offers (if any) will be extended to you independently of the admission offer.
   • You will not be required to pay an acceptance fee.
   • If you accept your admission, the application fee will be deferred to your first UBill.
2. Sending Official Documents
   • Transcripts – refer to ISU Admissions Instructions > Official Transcripts
   • Exam Scores (GRE and/or English) – refer to ISU Admissions Instructions > Examination Requirements

• You will have to pay for any applications submitted after Spring 2025.
• CCEE does not offer fee waivers, and neither do other ISU units (Admissions, Grad College).

1. CCEE requires the following documents for departmental review (unofficial PDF copies are OK):
   • Transcripts from institutions attended.
   • Statement of Purpose (500 words)
   • 3 LOR’s
   • Resume/CV
   • GRE report (if available, not required).
   • English proficiency report (if required, see Admissions Instructions, Examination Requirements, for list).
2. Other items not required for CCEE review, but you’ll receive reminders from the admissions system, include:
   • Application fee (Refer to FAQ)
   • Financial support documents (international students)
   • Passport (international students)
   • These items will be needed only if you are accepted for admission, AND you decide to attend ISU.

• The GRE is preferred, but not required by the CCEE department.
• The GRE will not be used to determine admission.
• The GRE is valuable to CCEE faculty to determine your skillset for assistantship consideration.

International applicants must take one of the following English proficiency examinations and meet or exceed scores listed below.  Applicants with scores below those listed will not be considered for admission.

1. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
   • Paper-based (PBT) = 553
   • Internet-based (IBT) = 82
   • ISU Admissions does NOT accept TOEFL “My Best” scores
2. IELTS (International English Language Testing system) = 6.5
3. DET (Duolingo English Test) = 105  Accepted through Spring 2025
4. PTE (Pearson Test of English) = 55

An exam of English proficiency will be required if English is not the official language of an applicant’s home country, even if they attended an institution where the language of instruction was English.

An exam of English proficiency will not be required if:

• English is the official language, or one of the official languages, of an applicant’s home country.
• An applicant has completed a prior degree (bachelor’s or master’s) in a country where English is the only official language.
• For more information, refer to the ISU Admissions Instructions>Examination Requirements

It is not necessary to identify/secure a major professor before applying. You are welcome to communicate with faculty about your interest in their research area.

Use the CCEE Faculty Directory by Focus Area to check out faculty profiles, which include their contact information.

• KEEP IN MIND that only those faculty who are Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors have active research programs.
• Faculty listed as Teaching, Affiliate, Professor of Practice, or Emeritus do not conduct research and will not be seeking students for assistantship.
• If you do not receive a response from a faculty member, most likely they are not seeking a student, and will not reply. Sending repeated messages will not be helpful to you.

You can. However, CCEE faculty might offer a master’s admission if they feel your credentials do not support a direct PhD admission.

Do not send application documents by email to the department or ISU Admissions. 

All documents must be uploaded to your Admissions MyAccount. 

Processing applications can take several months, especially during peak periods (December-March; August-October). It also depends on how quickly your application is complete. If any items are missing, such as transcripts, exam scores, LOR’s, etc., you will be notified that your application is incomplete. If any application items are not received in a timely manner, your application may or may not be considered for the term you originally applied for.

No.  You can be accepted academically for admission, but there may or may not be assistantship positions available at that time.  Assistantship positions are very competitive, and there are always more applicants than positions available. If you are accepted for admission, but not offered an assistantship, you might be encouraged to attend with your own funding or to find another funding source.

CCEE faculty do not have one set list of criteria. Every faculty member has different criteria based on their needs, which are determined by their research projects and teaching responsibilities. Graduate assistantship openings are filled based on application credentials.

• MS/creative component and Master of Engineering applicants are not considered for funding.
• MS/thesis and PhD applicants are considered for funding.
• All consideration is based on application materials – no separate applications for funding are required by CCEE.
  • Applicants must indicate using the ISU Admissions application check boxes (for TA, RA or both) that they want to be considered.
  • Applicants considered for assistantships are also considered for departmental fellowships & scholarships.
• For more information, see the CCEE Funding webpage.