Master of Science [M.S] (Environmental Engineering)
Field of Study:
$25,900 /Yr
Old Dominion University Master of Science Environmental Engineering is a 30-credit graduate degree in Norfolk, Virginia, officially titled Engineering with a Concentration in Environmental Engineering. This article covers the supplied full-time, on-campus route for international students; Old Dominion University (ODU) also lists online delivery with separate planning and fee implications. ODU publishes no fixed duration. Regular admission expects related bachelor’s preparation and a grade point average of 3.0 on 4.0.
For Indian applicants, the 3.0 threshold is approximately 65% to 75% or a 6.5 to 7.5 average on a 10-point scale. For the Spring 2027 intake, 30-credit tuition is US$45,690 (INR 43.60 Lakhs) before other charges. The curriculum develops capability in water quality, wastewater treatment, hydrologic processes, pollution prevention, air quality and hazardous waste; thesis, project and coursework pathways suit different final-study preferences.
- The plan of study can be tailored with an advisor within the first nine credit hours.
- Featured courses include Physicochemical Treatment Processes, Water Quality Management and Aquatic Chemistry in Environmental Engineering.
- Applicants from other engineering or science backgrounds may still be considered through provisional admission and prerequisite coursework.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the Spring 2027 intake are Open. International student deadline: 01 October 2026.
ODU states that a complete application and supporting credentials must be received by this deadline. Indian applicants should submit official documents before the portal cutoff because late files move to the next available semester.
Also Check: Old Dominion University Environmental Engineering Admission
Old Dominion Environmental Engineering Fees and Living Costs 2027
Spring 2027 tuition for the on-campus international route uses ODU’s 2026-27 graduate out-of-state rate. The university bills by credit, so the final charge depends on credits taken and semester fees.
Fee context: The first four rows use target-cycle rates effective from Fall 2026, while the remaining rows show selected mandatory charges. The 30-credit subtotal is calculated from the published per-credit rate.
| Fee item | Basis | Amount (US$) | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard graduate tuition | Per credit | US$1,361 | INR 1.30 Lakhs |
| Mandatory auxiliary tuition | Per credit | US$162 | INR 15,460 |
| Combined non-resident graduate rate | Per credit | US$1,523 | INR 1.45 Lakhs |
| 30-credit tuition subtotal | Calculated | US$45,690 | INR 43.60 Lakhs |
| International application fee | One time | US$50 | INR 4,772 |
| Innovation fee | Per credit | US$8 | INR 763 |
| Commonwealth Capital Fee | Per credit | US$20 | INR 1,909 |
| General Services Fee | Per semester | US$18 | INR 1,718 |
| Student Health Fee | Per semester | US$170 | INR 16,223 |
| Transportation Fee | Per semester | US$63 | INR 6,012 |
| ID Card Fee | Per semester | US$4 | INR 382 |
| International Student Fee | Per semester | US$35 | INR 3,340 |
Source: Old Dominion University 2026-27 tuition rates and international admissions fee information.
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$ 1 = INR 95.4309 as of 14 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
- The 30-credit tuition subtotal is US$45,690 (INR 43.60 Lakhs), before selected semester charges, insurance and living expenses.
- Using four semesters, selected mandatory charges total US$2,000 (INR 1.91 Lakhs), calculated from the published per-credit and per-semester fees.
- The US$50 (INR 4,772) application fee is non-refundable and should be included in the initial application budget.
Cost of Living in Norfolk for Environmental Engineering Students
ODU’s official living estimate is published for a nine-month academic year and combines housing, personal expenses and books rather than giving a monthly rent breakdown. The university separately lists health insurance and uses Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, for its graduate funding estimate.
| Expense | Official nine-month estimate (US$) | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Housing, personal expenses and books | US$13,500 | INR 12.88 Lakhs |
| Health insurance | US$3,400 | INR 3.24 Lakhs |
| Graduate Form I-20 funding estimate for 9 credits | US$45,400 | INR 43.33 Lakhs |
ODU’s nine-month estimate covers full-time enrollment at nine graduate credits and excludes summer, so US$45,400 (INR 43.33 Lakhs) is not the full 30-credit programme cost. Graduate housing is listed separately at US$10,798 to US$12,876 (INR 10.30 Lakhs to INR 12.29 Lakhs) annually.
A calculated four-semester planning illustration, assuming no summer enrolment, totals US$82,075 (INR 78.32 Lakhs). Its basis is US$45,690 (INR 43.60 Lakhs) tuition and US$2,000 (INR 1.91 Lakhs) selected mandatory charges. It also includes US$27,000 (INR 25.77 Lakhs) for two nine-month living estimates.
It adds US$6,800 (INR 6.49 Lakhs) health insurance, US$50 (INR 4,772) application and US$185 (INR 17,655) visa fees. It also adds US$350 (INR 33,401) Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fees. This is a planning calculation, not an ODU-published total.
Read More: USA Cost of Living for International Students
Planning boundary
ODU’s published estimate covers nine months and nine graduate credits, so use the calculated four-semester figure only to build funding evidence and confirm billing for the chosen pathway.
Key insight: The 30-credit tuition is clear, but ODU’s nine-month living estimate is not a full-programme budget. Fund the four-semester illustration only after confirming your pathway and billing plan.
Old Dominion Environmental Engineering Admission 2027
Academic preparation is the main admission filter for this environmental engineering degree. ODU prefers civil or environmental engineering graduates with strong mathematics and physical sciences, although provisional admission can add prerequisite coursework for other backgrounds.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required unless the applicant holds an engineering degree accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The waiver is tied to the specific degree and institution, so Indian applicants should verify accreditation before omitting the test.
Eligibility context: ODU’s published threshold uses a 4.0 scale, while the Indian percentage and 10-point ranges below are approximate. ODU does not publish a country-specific conversion here.
| Requirement | ODU requirement | Meaning for Indian applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Academic degree | Bachelor’s degree, preferably in civil or environmental engineering, with strong mathematics and physical sciences | A directly related engineering degree provides the clearest preparation match. |
| Grade point average | Generally 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale; lower results may be considered with engineering work experience or other credentials | Approximately 65% to 75%, or a 6.5 to 7.5 average on a 10-point scale; ODU decides equivalency. |
| Graduate Record Examination | Required unless the applicant holds an ABET-accredited engineering degree | Confirm the waiver against the exact bachelor’s degree before deciding whether to test. |
| Essay | 500 words or fewer covering personal and academic goals, professional objectives, preparation and programme fit | Use the essay to connect prior engineering work with an environmental engineering pathway. |
| Recommendations | Two letters from former or current professors or employment supervisors | Choose referees who can evaluate technical preparation and project ability. |
| Official records | Official transcripts, translations and standardized tests must be sent through accepted official channels | Arrange sealed or directly transmitted documents early because incomplete files move to a later semester. |
No programme-specific ranking is used here because the official sources reviewed provide curriculum and admission evidence rather than an environmental engineering rank. The three pathways and prerequisite risk are more useful for deciding fit.
English Language Proficiency Requirements
ODU accepts several English Language Proficiency tests for international applicants. The Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) changed scale after 21 January 2026, so the university’s date-specific scores must be followed exactly.
| Test | ODU score | Applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026; 79 before that date; MyBest scores not accepted | Use the scale matching the test date and do not self-convert. |
| TOEFL paper-based | 550 | Use this route only if the testing centre and ODU application route support it. |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | 6.5 overall | Check each score report before submission because the published requirement is overall. |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | 53 | Use the published overall score without converting it to another scale. |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | Confirm that the score remains valid when the application is submitted. |
- A degree from a country where English is the official language may satisfy ODU’s additional proficiency option, but Indian applicants should request confirmation rather than assume a waiver.
- Two university-level English courses at a regionally accredited United States institution are another published route for eligible applicants.
- Applicants below the regular score range may be referred to ODU’s English pathway programmes, which adds time and cost before degree study.
Check Out: Old Dominion University Graduate Programs
Tip for Indian students: A related engineering degree, a clear 500-word essay and a verified GRE waiver can reduce avoidable application risk. Treat the TOEFL date split as a score-submission check, not a conversion exercise.
Old Dominion Environmental Engineering Application 2027
Spring 2027 is the current target intake because its international deadline is the earliest future deadline listed by ODU. Submit only when transcripts, recommendations, essay, English evidence and any required GRE score can form a complete file.
ODU states that complete applications and supporting credentials received after the stated deadline move to the next available semester. The university’s international admissions frequently asked questions page says complete graduate applications typically take 8 to 10 weeks. It does not publish a programme-specific decision date.
International Deadlines and Intake Choice
Deadline context: ODU publishes recurring term dates without years or clock times, so the table maps them to the next applicant-accessible 2027 intakes. Spring 2027 is the open target, while Summer and Fall are future alternatives.
| Intake | International deadline | ODU published term |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | 01 October 2026 | Spring (January) |
| Summer 2027 | 01 February 2027 | Summer (May) |
| Fall 2027 | 15 April 2027 | Fall (August) |
ODU does not publish a clock time or timezone beside these dates. The university portal’s displayed cutoff controls submission, so Indian applicants should not assume the deadline ends at Indian Standard Time midnight.
Application File for Environmental Engineering
A complete file must connect preparation with programme fit. The core components below come from the environmental engineering programme and ODU’s international admissions instructions.
| Component | Published requirement | Submission action |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Complete the ODU graduate application and pay the non-refundable application fee | Submit before the intake deadline because further documents cannot be added through the online application. |
| Academic records | Official transcripts and translations where required | Ask the institution or accepted testing authority to send records through the required official channel. |
| Essay | 500 words or fewer on goals, preparation, objectives and programme fit | Use a focused environmental engineering rationale rather than a general study-abroad statement. |
| Recommendations | Two letters from professors or employment supervisors | Brief referees on the target pathway and the evidence they should address. |
| GRE and English evidence | GRE unless the ABET waiver applies, plus an accepted English score or waiver | Resolve both conditions before submission so the file is not treated as incomplete. |
- Choose Spring 2027 when the academic file and financial evidence can be complete by 01 October 2026.
- Use the Summer 2027 or Fall 2027 deadline when prerequisite review, testing or document transmission needs additional time.
- Ask the department about assistantship timing separately because ODU warns that some programmes set earlier funding deadlines.
Application tip: The 01 October 2026 Spring deadline applies to the complete international file, not merely the online form. Resolve the GRE waiver and document transmission before submitting the application.
Old Dominion Environmental Engineering Scholarships 2027
ODU does not publish a programme-specific scholarship amount for Spring 2027. The practical funding routes are competitive assistantships, a research award after enrolment and an international student award with post-enrolment eligibility.
Assistantships may provide a stipend, but the current environmental engineering pages do not publish a target-cycle amount or guaranteed tuition remission. ODU also warns that some programmes set earlier funding deadlines, so funding enquiries should run alongside the admission application.
Funding context: The table lists current published routes and identifies when a student must already be enrolled. These routes should reduce the funding gap only after eligibility and selection are confirmed.
| Award or route | Value (US$) | INR equivalent | Eligibility and timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departmental teaching or research assistantship | Stipend amount not published | Not published | Competitive route for eligible full-time graduate students; ask the department about selection and any remission terms. |
| Graduate Summer Research Awards | Amount not published | Not published | The 2026-27 cycle opens in January or February 2027; proposals are expected in mid-to-late March 2027 and require a faculty mentor. |
| International Student Advisory Board Scholarship | Up to US$1,000 | INR 95,431 | Current published post-enrolment route requiring one completed semester and a graduate grade point average of 3.0; funds are first-come until depleted. |
ODU’s 2026-27 Graduate School awards included the Meredith Construction Company Scholarship of US$9,295 (INR 8.87 Lakhs) and the Graduate School General Scholarship of US$950 (INR 90,659). It also listed Alumni Association fellowships of US$1,500 each (INR 1.43 Lakhs). Their 27 February 2026 nomination deadline had passed on the research date, so they are not open Spring 2027 entry awards.
- Treat an assistantship as competitive funding rather than an assumed tuition waiver because the current programme page does not confirm remission terms.
- Applicants choosing the thesis or project pathway should discuss a faculty mentor early because the summer research award requires faculty-mentored work.
- Include the post-enrolment International Student Advisory Board award only as a later funding possibility because it requires one completed semester.
Read More: Scholarships for US Master’s Students
Funding reality
The strongest pre-arrival action is to ask the environmental engineering department about assistantship timing and remission terms before relying on the four-semester cost illustration.
Scholarship reality: ODU publishes several graduate funding routes, but the available Spring 2027 evidence does not guarantee an award or disclose an assistantship amount. Build the application budget without assumed funding.
Old Dominion Environmental Engineering Salary 2027
ODU does not publish a course-cohort salary, offer rate or placement report for this environmental engineering degree. Its programme page instead displays external median salary benchmarks, which indicate labour-market context rather than what ODU graduates typically earn.
That scope matters for financing because a benchmark cannot establish placement probability or repayment capacity. The figures below are labelled as university-cited external market evidence and should be tested against actual job offers.
| Evidence scope | Role and measure | Amount (US$) | INR equivalent | Applicant meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University-cited external market benchmark | Environmental Engineers median salary | US$91,180 | INR 87.01 Lakhs | Market midpoint, not an ODU graduate outcome or guarantee. |
| University-cited external market benchmark | Environmental Engineering Technicians median salary | US$53,610 | INR 51.16 Lakhs | Adjacent technician benchmark, not a graduate placement result. |
Source: Old Dominion University Environmental Engineering programme page, which labels the figures as median salary information and links to the Occupational Information Network.
ROI context: A four-semester planning illustration uses a calculated tuition and living budget rather than a published course total. The decision therefore depends on funding certainty, realistic employment evidence and the post-study work window.
- The 30-credit tuition subtotal is US$45,690 (INR 43.60 Lakhs), so secure a funding plan before treating a salary benchmark as relevant to repayment.
- ODU’s official nine-month graduate estimate is US$45,400 (INR 43.33 Lakhs) for nine credits, so do not use it as the full programme living budget.
- The US$91,180 (INR 87.01 Lakhs) environmental engineer median is external market evidence, so compare it with written offers rather than calculating expected payback.
- For an India-return plan, use a verified India salary offer and actual loan schedule because the US$91,180 (INR 87.01 Lakhs) benchmark is not a course outcome.
- Regular Optional Practical Training (OPT) provides 12 months; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) eligibility can add 24 months, so verify degree-list and employer conditions before budgeting.
Take-home pay will vary with federal, state and local taxes plus benefits, so use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator for a personal calculation. No payback period is calculated because the available salary figures are external benchmarks and the programme does not publish course-level outcomes.
ROI reality: The programme offers environmental engineering pathways and a potential STEM work route, but ODU’s published salary figures are market benchmarks. Finance the degree against verified offers, not the displayed median.
USA Visa for Old Dominion Environmental Engineering Students 2027
International students on the full-time, on-campus route normally apply for an F-1 Student visa. The U.S. Department of State lists the visa processing fee as US$185 (INR 17,655), while the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee is US$350 (INR 33,401). Verify current instructions on the official student visa page before payment.
- Regular Optional Practical Training (OPT) can authorize 12 months of degree-related work, while ODU states Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) majors may obtain a further 24-month extension.
- No single course threshold applies to H-1B; the employer must pay the higher of actual or prevailing wage, while sponsorship and selection determine the route.
- Permanent residence has no fixed course-linked timeline because employment category, employer sponsorship and visa-number availability control the route.
- F-2 dependent status may cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, but dependants are not employment-authorized and require individual Forms I-20.
Check Out: USA Post-Study Work Visa Guide
Visa reality: The environmental engineering degree can support a STEM-related work route, but the extension, H-1B transition and permanent residence are conditional. Verify the degree code and employer requirements before assigning them financial value.
Old Dominion University’s 30-credit Environmental Engineering degree fits Indian civil or environmental engineering graduates who want technical depth with a thesis, project or coursework pathway. Its flexible plan and environmental specialisms support both research preparation and applied engineering goals. The material tradeoff is a calculated four-semester cost of US$82,075 (INR 78.32 Lakhs) alongside no course-level placement report. For Spring 2027, prepare the complete file and funding evidence before the 01 October 2026 international deadline.
Old Dominion Environmental Engineering FAQs
Ques. Is Old Dominion University’s Environmental Engineering degree a good fit for an Indian civil engineering graduate?
Ans. Yes, the programme prefers civil or environmental engineering preparation with strong mathematics and physical sciences. A related graduate can choose a thesis, project or coursework pathway, while another background may require prerequisites.
Ques. What English score should I submit for Spring 2027?
Ans. ODU lists IELTS 6.5 overall, PTE Academic 53 and Duolingo English Test 120. For TOEFL iBT, submit 4.5 for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026 or 79 for earlier tests.
Ques. What should I budget beyond the 30-credit tuition?
Ans. The calculated four-semester planning illustration is US$82,075 (INR 78.32 Lakhs), including tuition, selected mandatory charges, two nine-month living estimates, insurance and initial visa costs. ODU does not publish this as a programme total, so confirm billing and summer requirements.
Ques. Which Old Dominion Environmental Engineering intake should I choose?
Ans. Spring 2027 is the current target with an international deadline of 01 October 2026. Summer 2027 and Fall 2027 remain alternatives with deadlines of 01 February 2027 and 15 April 2027.
Ques. Can this degree support work in the United States after graduation?
Ans. Regular OPT can provide 12 months of related work, with a further 24-month STEM extension only when degree, employer and filing conditions are met. ODU publishes external salary benchmarks rather than a course placement report, so employment should not be treated as assured.
Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $25900 |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Health Insurance | $3000 |
| Books and supply | $13500 |
Previous Year Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $25600 |
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