Top 10 universities for engineering in the US 2024
Scroll down for the full list of best universities for engineering in the US
US engineering rank 2024 | Engineering rank 2024 | University | State |
1 | 1 | Harvard University | Massachusetts |
2 | 2 | Stanford University | California |
3 | 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts |
4 | 6 | University of California, Berkeley | California |
5 | 7 | California Institute of Technology | California |
6 | 8 | Princeton University | New Jersey |
7 | 12 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia |
8 | 17 | University of California, Los Angeles | California |
9 | 18 | Yale University | Connecticut |
10 | 19 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Michigan |
Through the US college system, undergraduate students can study a number of different subjects before deciding on a major.
For prospective engineering students, however, it’s worth having an idea of which field of engineering you’d like to specialise in for your major when you apply. This is because you’ll often need to have completed a specific set of foundational classes in mathematics, physics and materials science in order to pursue your chosen engineering specialism.
There are many different branches of engineering in which students can specialise, including civil engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering and more. Many students will choose to stay for a postgraduate course in order to further develop their speciality before entering the world of work.
These are the top universities in the US for engineering degrees.
5. California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology offers programmes for undergraduates, graduates and postdoctoral candidates through their division of chemistry and chemical engineering.
Admission to Caltech is competitive with the college accepting 230 new students each year and 10 to 15 upperclassmen, allowing class sizes to remain small.
Students will undergo broad and detailed training in chemical engineering, balancing classroom lectures with laboratory experience. Students will learn about the societal impact of chemical engineering within the courses.
At the California Institute of Technology engineering students will be given the opportunity to choose one of four divisions of chemical engineering in which to specialise, choosing from biomolecular, environmental, materials or process systems. Students will then have the opportunity to pursue independent research for their thesis in their second and third years.
4. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley College of Engineering has nine undergraduate engineering programmes: chemical; civil; computer; electrical; environmental; industrial; materials; mechanical; and bioengineering.
Students at the College of Engineering must take at least six courses to satisfy their humanities and social sciences requirement, as well as maintaining a minimum overall grade point average of 2.00.
Undergraduate students may apply directly to an engineering programme of their choice or remain undeclared if they wish first to explore different areas of engineering.
The master of engineering focuses on business and engineering management within your chosen engineering discipline. The university also offers an MBA/MEng programme that enables students to earn two master’s degrees in the time it takes to complete one. Students in this programme will take both business and engineering courses.
Berkeley students have access to many teaching and research facilities, including the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation, which offers practical design and prototyping experience. There is also the Sutardja Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology, aiding students in launching new companies. The Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership is an educational facility on campus that encourages innovation.
About a quarter of engineering students at Berkeley are international.
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3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s School of Engineering is the largest of MIT’s five schools.
When students join MIT, they take courses across all five schools and then choose their major from whichever school they wish. About 70 per cent of undergraduates declare engineering as their major, according to the university.
The school has nine engineering departments covering the following areas: aeronautics and astronautics; biological; chemical; civil and environmental; electrical and computer science; medical engineering and science; materials science; mechanical; and nuclear science.
The engineering master’s programme at MIT runs for two years and is available across a range of courses, including mechanical engineering and aeronautics and astronautics. Students may also be awarded the engineer’s degree at a postgraduate level. This programme provides a higher level of professional competence than is required by the master’s degree, but there is less emphasis on research than in the doctoral programme.
Engineering students at MIT have a range of opportunities to access during their studies, including study-abroad options, entrepreneurship support, research experiences and hands-on practical learning.
2. Stanford University
Stanford University’s engineering department offers 16 undergraduate majors for engineering students, including: aeronautics, bioengineering, environmental systems, materials science, mechanical engineering, engineering physics and product design among others.
The master of science in engineering is available across all nine departments of engineering and combines academic course work with research.
Stanford undergraduates may also apply to master’s programmes as coterminal students, which means that they are classified as both undergraduate and postgraduate students and may take courses across both curricula.
Undergraduate students also have the opportunity to take part in the research experience for undergraduates (REU), providing the chance to work with faculty members on advanced research topics. The top 30 students of each undergraduate class are presented with the Frederick Emmons Terman Engineering Scholastic Award, named after the fourth dean of the school.
Stanford University has a range of facilities accessible to students, from the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, to the Aerospace Robotics Lab and the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
1. Harvard University
Harvard University offers several engineering undergraduate programmes: materials science and mechanical engineering; environmental science and engineering; electrical engineering; computer science; bioengineering; and applied mathematics.
The engineering faculty also offers a broad range of graduate and professional programmes for postgraduate students.
For most of Harvard’s engineering programmes, students will start their first year learning the foundational concepts, including mathematics and physics.
Engineering students at Harvard can get involved in a number of extracurricular clubs, from the Climate Governance Initiative to the Harvard College Engineering Society. These student-run organisations allow like-minded students to come together and develop their interests.
The engineering campus is split between two areas, one in Cambridge near Harvard Yard, and the other on Western Avenue in Allston. The Cambridge campus is home to classrooms and laboratories, while the Allston campus houses the Science and Engineering Complex, as well as the Engineering Yard and Harvard Innovation Lab.
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What can you do with a mechanical engineering degree?
Top universities in the US for engineering degrees 2024
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 results.
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