Top 25 engineering universities in the US

Updated on Jul 18, 2024
Fact checked 
Top 25 engineering universities in the US

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The USA is one of the top study-abroad destinations for international students who want to build a career in Engineering. Offering top engineering courses to students, these colleges consistently maintain their high ranks globally year after year.

Let us now take a look at the top engineering colleges in the US available for students, important tips on how you can apply for them as well as scholarships available for students.

Top 25 engineering universities in the US

The USA is amongst the few nations that have an impressive number of universities ranking high globally among engineering colleges from all over the world, making the USA an elite nation offering top engineering courses to students.

Take a look at the list of the best engineering schools in the US given below. The list is created by comparing several reliable sources including the US News & World Reports, Niche- a student-heavy ranking source as well as College Factual.

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RankingUniversityLocation
1Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Cambridge, MA
2Stanford UniversityStanford, CA
3University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA
4Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ
5Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA
6Duke UniversityDurham, NC
7Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)Atlanta,GA
8Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD
9Columbia UniversityNew York, NY
10Cornell UniversityIthaca NY
11University of MichiganAnn Arbor,MI
12Rice UniversityHouston, TX
13Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA
14University of California - UC BerkeleyBerkeley, CA
15Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL
16Franklin W. Olin College of EngineeringNeedham, MA
17Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, CA
18University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA
19University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX
20University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)Los Angeles, CA
21University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA
22Brown UniversityProvidence, RI
23Purdue, University - West LafayetteWest Lafayette, IN
24University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN
25University of Illinois- Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL

These top-ranking schools are also the best universities for masters in software engineering in the USA as well as other specialisations, offering world-class higher education to international students, and helping them create a successful future for themselves.

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Specialisations available in top engineering colleges in the US

Institutes in the USA offer several specialisations in engineering for aspirants.

The list of top courses on offer is provided below:

Best engineering schools in the US

Undergraduate programs

Best engineering universities for undergraduate in the US

The list provided below gives you an insight into the best engineering schools in the US for various undergraduate programs and the rankings are based on specialty rankings from US News & World Report and College Factual.

Courses & SpecialisationsTop Engineering Institutes
Aerospace EngineeringMIT, Stanford, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Chemical EngineeringMIT, Stanford, Northwestern
Civil EngineeringMIT, Stanford, Cal Tech, Rice
Computer Engineering MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Cal Tech
Electrical Engineering MIT, Stanford, Cal Tech, University of California - Berkeley
Mechanical Engineering MIT, Stanford, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Eligibility requirements for bachelors in US

The eligibility requirements for students planning to apply for an undergraduate engineering degree in the USA are given below.

  • International students must provide their 12th standard qualifying certificate from a registered body of education.
  • Most of the top universities require students to get high scores on the SAT or ACT Math.
    • ACT score range: 34-35
    • SAT score range: 800-1560
  • International students need to provide proof of English proficiency
    • IELTS: 7 or more
    • TOEFL: Range 85-1100
  • Certain universities require students to give proof of age
  • Certain institutes and universities may require students to appear for tests and interviews conducted internally

Postgraduate programs

A postgraduate degree in engineering in your chosen field can help you get better career opportunities. According to Salary Explorer, employees with a master's degree can earn 29% more than they can earn only having a bachelor’s degree.

Let us now take a look at the postgraduate programs offered at some of the best institutes in the US.

Postgraduate DegreeEngineering School
Master of Chemical EngineeringMIT; Princeton
Master of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of California (Berkeley); 
Cornell
Master of Financial EngineeringColumbia University (New York); 
University of California
Master of Electrical EngineeringColumbia University ( New York); 
University of California
Master of Engineering in Computer ScienceCornell University
Master of Civil EngineeringCalifornia Institute of Technology; 
Stanford

Eligibility requirements for masters in the US

Students willing to study at top electrical engineering universities in the USA or other top-ranking engineering institutes need to fulfil basic criteria before their application is considered for admission.

The eligibility criteria are mentioned below:

  • Students applying for a postgraduate program must provide their undergraduate qualifying certificate in a related field of study.
  • Most top engineering colleges in the US require GRE scores and international students need to score well to get admission in top ranking colleges in the USA.
  • International students need to provide proof of English proficiency
  • Different universities and colleges may have other admission criteria as well as rules and regulations that applying students are required to fulfil.
  • Certain institutes and universities may also conduct interviews depending on the course and the university chosen.

Also read: Top 100 universities in the world

Scholarships options

Many universities offer scholarships to deserving students depending upon their performance as well as other eligibility criteria. Some of the scholarships for international students are given below:

  • The Kay-Grant Group Scholarship: All Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D. programs at any University in the USA
  • MIT- Grad. Student Fellowships in Nuclear Engineering: Graduate programs in nuclear engineering
  • TATA Scholarship: Cornell University: All UG programs but preferences are given to civil, electrical, and computer engineering
  • Comindware Scholarship: All UG, PG & Doctorate programs
  • Richard A. Freund International Scholarship: Master’s & Doctoral degrees in the fields of engineering

Undoubtedly, engineering schools in the USA offer outstanding faculties, rich resources, and cutting-edge research infrastructure, making it the top study-abroad destination for students. Moreover, students also get a chance to build a rewarding career in booming industries like aerospace, electrical engineering, construction, and software engineering. If you plan to study in the USA, then Edvoy can help you realise your dreams and get admission to the university of your choice.

FAQs

Q.1 What is the #1 engineering program in the US?

Ans. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the top-ranked university offering the #1 engineering program in the field of Aerospace/Aeronautics.

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Q.2 Which is the No. 1 engineering college in the world?

Ans. According to the QS World Ranking 2023, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranks at #1.

Q.3 Is studying engineering in the USA worth it?

Ans. The USA is one of the most preferred countries to study engineering for higher education as engineering schools in the USA offer outstanding faculties, rich resources, and cutting-edge research infrastructure to students.

Q.4 Which engineering is highly paid in the USA?

Ans. Most engineering specialties in the USA can get students some really good salary packages. However, Aeronautical engineers are paid extremely well with an average annual salary of $ 101,705.

Q.5 Are engineers in high demand in the USA?

Ans. Yes, the country provides rewarding career opportunities due to its booming industries like aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, software engineering, petroleum engineering, etc. 

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