Engineering Design is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for engineering design students pursuing a degree.
The school you choose for engineering design can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Engineering Design rankings. For our Best Overall Engineering Design School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Engineering Design Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 school for engineering design. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. Harvard University awarded about 26 engineering design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering design program make about $95,207 in their early career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering design from Harvard University
University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in engineering design, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 41 engineering design degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering design degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering design program report for University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #3 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the top schools for engineering design. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 148 engineering design degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering design degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering design program at Carnegie Mellon University
A rank of #4 makes Arizona State University one of the top schools for engineering design. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 10 engineering design students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering design degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $76,149. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
More information about a degree in engineering design from Arizona State University
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 4 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
