Best Engineering Schools and Programs

Excellent Engineering Programs at Comprehensive Universities

by Allen Grove
Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.
Updated October 19, 2018

The U.S. has so many strong engineering programs that my list of the top ten engineering schools barely scratches the surface. In the list below you'll find ten more universities that have top-rated engineering programs. Each has impressive facilities, professors, and name recognition. I've listed the schools alphabetically to avoid the arbitrary distinctions often used to rank equally strong programs. For schools where the focus is mostly on undergraduates rather than graduate research, take a look at these top undergraduate engineering schools.

Harvard University

Harvard University
Harvard University. _Gene_ / flickr

When it comes to engineering in the Boston area, most college applicants think of MIT, not Harvard. However, Harvard's strengths in engineering and applied sciences continue to grow. Undergraduate engineering students have several tracks they can pursue: biomedical sciences and engineering; electrical engineering and computer science; engineering physics; environmental sciences and engineering; and mechanical and materials sciences and engineering.

Penn State University

Penn State University Old Main
Penn State University Old Main. acidcookie / Flickr

Penn State has a robust and diverse engineering program that graduates well over 1,000 engineers a year. Be sure to look into Penn State's Liberal Arts and Engineering Concurrent Degree Program -- it's a great choice for students who don't want a narrow pre-professional curriculum.

Princeton University

Princeton University
Princeton University. _Gene_ / Flickr

Students in Princeton's School of Engineering and Applied Science concentrate in one of six engineering fields, but the curriculum also has a strong grounding in the humanities and social sciences. Princeton states the school's goal is to "educate leaders who can solve world problems."

Texas A&M at College Station

Texas A&M
Texas A&M. StuSeeger / Flickr

Despite what the university's name might suggest, Texas A&M is far more than an agricultural and engineering school, and students will find strengths in the humanities and sciences as well as the more technical fields. Texas A&M graduates over 1,000 engineers a year with civil and mechanical engineering being the most popular among undergraduates.

University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)

UCLA Royce Hall
UCLA Royce Hall. _gene_ / flickr

UCLA is one of the most selective and highly-ranked public universities in the country. Its Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science graduates over 400 engineering students a year. Electrical and mechanical engineering are most popular among undergraduates.

University of California at San Diego

UCSD is one of the top-ranked public universities in the country, and the school has wide-ranging strengths in engineering and science. Bioengineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and structural engineering are all particularly popular among undergraduates.

University of Maryland at College Park

University of Maryland Patterson Hall
University of Maryland Patterson Hall. forklift / Flickr

UMD's Clark School of Engineering graduates over 500 undergraduate engineers a year. Mechanical and electrical engineering draw the greatest number of students. Aside from engineering, Maryland has wide-ranging strengths in the humanities and social sciences.

University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas, Austin
University of Texas, Austin. _Gene_ / Flickr

UT Austin is one of the largest public universities in the country, and its academic strengths span the sciences, engineering, business, social sciences, and humanities. Texas's Cockrell School of Engineering graduates around 1,000 undergraduates a year. Popular fields include aeronautical, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering.

University of Wisconsin at Madison

University of Wisconsin Social Sciences
University of Wisconsin Social Sciences. Mark Sadowski / Flickr

Wisconsin's College of Engineering graduates close to 600 undergraduates a year. The most popular majors are chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. Like many of the comprehensive universities on this list, Wisconsin has strengths in numerous areas outside of engineering.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech Campus
Virginia Tech Campus. CipherSwarm / Flickr

Virginia Tech's College of Engineering graduates over 1,000 undergraduates a year. Popular programs include aerospace, civil, computer, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering. Virginia Tech has been ranked among the top 10 public engineering schools by U.S. News & World Report.