Studying Engineering in the USA is a smart choice to access the latest advancements in science and technology with cutting-edge research facilities. Below is a list of the top 10 best engineering schools in the USA.
| University | Ranking in Best Engineering Schools in the USA |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | #1 in Best Engineering Schools |
| Stanford University | #2 in Best Engineering Schools |
| University of California–Berkeley | #3 in Best Engineering Schools |
| California Institute of Technology | #4 in Best Engineering Schools |
| Carnegie Mellon University | #4 in Best Engineering Schools |
| Purdue University–West Lafayette | #4 in Best Engineering Schools |
| University of Michigan–Ann Arbor | #7 in Best Engineering Schools |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | #8 in Best Engineering Schools |
| University of California–San Diego (Jacobs) | #9 in Best Engineering Schools |
| University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign | #10 in Best Engineering Schools |
Founded in 1861, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was established to meet the nation’s industrialization needs. The school was built on the polytechnic university model, emphasizing laboratory instruction, which has fostered close collaboration with industrial companies. MIT became a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) in 1934. The institute ranks #1 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
Learn more about the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Stanford University ranks #2 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
With an area of 3,310 hectares, Stanford University is the second-largest university campus in the world. Four of the seven schools at Stanford offer both undergraduate and graduate programs, including Law, Medicine, Education, and Business, while the others offer only graduate-level programs. The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment collaborates on research, teaching, and practical applications.
Located close to Silicon Valley, Stanford has deep ties to the tech industry. This relationship has helped create a beneficial cycle where alumni earn substantial incomes and then reinvest in the school and its students. Stanford was the first university to raise over $1 billion per year. The university’s endowment is the fifth largest in the country, valued at $27.5 billion.
Read more about Stanford University here!
The school is renowned for producing a significant number of economists in fields such as Finance, Marketing, Management, International Business, Corporate Management, and Operations Management. UC Berkeley is ranked first in Mathematics, third in Engineering, and fourth in Social Sciences and Life Sciences. The university has over 99 Nobel laureates, 13 Fields Medalists, and 23 Turing Award winners in Computer Science. This is one of the most unique universities globally.
University of California–Berkeley ranks #3 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
Learn more about University of California–Berkeley
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) offers interdisciplinary programs such as Applied Physics, Biochemistry, and more. In addition to undergraduate programs, Caltech’s graduate programs are highly regarded in Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, and more.
Caltech is rated as an R1 research institution. The school participates in numerous research projects and receives substantial funding from scientific institutes and organizations such as NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Notable alumni include astronaut and U.S. Senator Harrison Schmitt, who was the only geologist to walk on the moon, and the inventor of the pH meter Arnold Orville Beckman.
California Institute of Technology ranks #4 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
Learn more about the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. CMU was founded in 1900 by American industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who was also known as the “Steel King” and is the third richest person in history. Carnegie Mellon is renowned for its top-tier science and technology programs. Randy Pausch, author of the New York Times bestseller “The Last Lecture,” was a professor at CMU.
Carnegie Mellon is highly regarded in technology, science, economics, public policy, humanities, and the arts. The university consistently ranks #1 in innovative programs and has one of the best computer science programs. CMU has produced 20 Nobel laureates, 13 Turing Award winners, 2 National Medals of Science, and 6 National Medals of Technology and Innovation. Additionally, CMU has partnerships with over 575 companies, including Apple, Google, and Uber, and has supported more than 340 startups in the past decade.
Carnegie Mellon University ranks #4 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
Learn more about Carnegie Mellon University here!
Founded in 1869 in Indiana, Purdue University–West Lafayette is the main and largest campus in the Purdue University system. Purdue University–West Lafayette is ranked among the top 5 public universities in the United States, with the fourth-largest international student enrollment in the country. Each year, more than 30,000 applications are submitted for undergraduate programs, with only 50% acceptance. Purdue has produced 13 Nobel laureates, and 25 American astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, are among its alumni.
Purdue University–West Lafayette ranks #4 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
Read more about Purdue University–West Lafayette here!
University of Michigan is proud to be ranked #24 in the National University Rankings for 2021. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, the university is just a 45-minute drive from Detroit. First-year students are not required to live on campus and may choose to live off-campus if they prefer.
Besides its strength in engineering, parents and students may consider other programs at the University of Michigan, including:
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor ranks #7 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
Learn more about the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) here!
The Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as Georgia Tech, is a public research university established in 1885 with a 400-acre campus. In the National University Rankings, Georgia Tech is ranked #38. The institute is located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with additional campuses in Savannah, Georgia; Metz, France; Athlone, Ireland; Shanghai, China; and Singapore.
Besides its strength in engineering, the Georgia Institute of Technology is known for its undergraduate and graduate programs divided into member schools, including:
Georgia Institute of Technology ranks #8 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
You can learn more about the Georgia Institute of Technology here!
The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) is a public research university founded in 1960 with a 1,976-acre campus. In the National University Rankings, UC San Diego is ranked #38. The university is located in the La Jolla area of San Diego, California, USA.
Notable alumni of UC San Diego include Guy “Bud” Tribble and Bill Atkinson, who helped create the first Apple Macintosh computer, and Mike Judge, an actor, writer, director, and producer known for creating the film “Office Space” and the TV series “King of the Hill.”
University of California–San Diego (Jacobs) ranks #9 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
Learn more about the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) here!
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research university located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, Illinois. It is the flagship institution of the University of Illinois system and was founded in 1867.
UIUC is a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified as an R1 research institution, indicating very high research activity. The campus library system is the second-largest university library in the United States, after Harvard University. The university is also home to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and hosts the fastest supercomputer on any university campus.
Illinois has 16 schools and colleges offering over 150 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. UIUC also operates a Research Park, which houses innovation centers for over 90 startups and multinational corporations, including Abbott, AbbVie, Caterpillar, Capital One, Dow, State Farm, and Yahoo, among others.
University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign ranks #10 in the best engineering schools in the USA.
This concludes the list of the top 10 best engineering schools in the USA. We hope this article is helpful for parents and students!
NEEC is a reputable US study abroad consultancy, offering detailed guidance for students applying to top US universities. Chat with us, or leave your information to get detailed advice.
