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2023 Most Popular Colleges for General Engineering

498 Ranked Colleges
9,018 Degrees Awarded
$32,500 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Engineering Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Engineering Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

General Engineering is the 96th most popular major in the country with 9,018 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Engineering Major” ranking analyzed 498 colleges that offered a degree in general engineering. To top this list, a school must have a successful general engineering program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank General Engineering Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Engineering Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Engineering Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Engineering Major”.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Maryland - College Park. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major list. College Park, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 381 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at University of Maryland - College Park

2
Northeastern crest
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeastern University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major list. Northeastern is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 320 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at Northeastern

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Virginia Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major list. This large school is located in Annandale, Virginia, and it awarded 205 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about General Engineering at Northern Virginia Community College

4

Out of the 498 schools in the Most Well Attended Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #4 spot on the list. ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 174 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full ASU - Tempe General Engineering Report

5
Dartmouth crest
Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Dartmouth College. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Engineering Major. Dartmouth is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hanover, New Hampshire. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 153 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at Dartmouth

6

University of Alabama at Birmingham did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and it awarded 143 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Alabama at Birmingham General Engineering Report

7
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. Brown University is a fairly large school located in Providence, Rhode Island that handed out 142 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Brown University General Engineering Report

8

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #8. UC Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 123 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Davis General Engineering Report

9
University at Buffalo crest
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York

University at Buffalo landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at University at Buffalo

9
Mercer crest
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia

Mercer University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. Mercer is a private not-for-profit institution located in Macon, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 116 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Mercer General Engineering Report

11
Montgomery College crest
Montgomery College
Rockville, Maryland

With a ranking of #11, Montgomery College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major list. This fairly large school is located in Rockville, Maryland, and it awarded 115 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on General Engineering at Montgomery College

12
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

With a ranking of #12, Old Dominion University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major list. Norfolk, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 113 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on General Engineering at Old Dominion

13
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

With a ranking of #13, University of Arkansas did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major list. UARK is a large school located in Fayetteville, Arkansas that handed out 106 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UARK General Engineering Report

14
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Engineering Major list. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 103 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Engineering at Michigan State University

15
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #15, East Carolina University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major list. ECU is a public institution located in Greenville, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 102 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on General Engineering at ECU

16
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #16. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 96 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Purdue General Engineering Report

17

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 88 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on General Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

18

Austin Community College District came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 85 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about General Engineering at Austin Community College District

18

Tidewater Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, this fairly large public school awarded 85 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

Full Tidewater Community College General Engineering Report

18
Calvin crest
Calvin University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Calvin University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 85 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Calvin General Engineering Report

21

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. ASU - Skysong is a large public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 81 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at ASU - Skysong

22
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. JMU is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 76 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full JMU General Engineering Report

22

University of Alabama in Huntsville did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #22. This medium-sized school is located in Huntsville, Alabama, and it awarded 76 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at UAH

24
Union County College crest
Union County College
Cranford, New Jersey

Union County College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major ranking. Union County College is a public institution located in Cranford, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 75 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about General Engineering at Union County College

25
South Texas College crest
South Texas College
McAllen, Texas

South Texas College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Engineering Major list. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Full South Texas College General Engineering Report

Rest of the Best 52 in Most Well Attended Engineering Major

Not only did these schools make the top 52 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
McNeese crest
McNeese State University
Lake Charles, Louisiana
26
Rowan crest
Rowan University
Glassboro, New Jersey
28
29
30
31
32
Harvey Mudd College crest
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, California
32
34
34
Messiah crest
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
36
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California
37
Hope crest
Hope College
Holland, Michigan
38
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
38
40
Geneva crest
Geneva College
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
40
42
UCONN crest
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
42
44
Lamar University crest
Lamar University
Beaumont, Texas
44
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois
46
47
48
49
SLU crest
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri
50
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
50
Loyola Maryland crest
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland
50
Morgan State crest
Morgan State University
Baltimore, Maryland

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Most Well Attended Engineering Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
53West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV
54Indiana University - BloomingtonBloomington, IN
54Monroe Community CollegeRochester, NY
56Elizabethtown CollegeElizabethtown, PA
57Hudson Valley Community CollegeTroy, NY
58Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS
58Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LA
58Schoolcraft CollegeLivonia, MI
61Minnesota State University - MankatoMankato, MN
61University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO
61Bristol Community CollegeFall River, MA
61William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine, IL
61Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA
66University of the PacificStockton, CA
67Snow CollegeEphraim, UT
RankCollegeLocation
67College of Staten Island CUNYStaten Island, NY
67New Mexico State University - Main CampusLas Cruces, NM
67Olin CollegeNeedham, MA
71Queensborough Community CollegeBayside, NY
72Marshall UniversityHuntington, WV
72Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX
72College of DuPageGlen Ellyn, IL
72Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, MI

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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