Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1312 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for engineering students pursuing a degree.
Where you study engineering matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Engineering Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Engineering 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 Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in engineering. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 2,180 engineering degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in engineering from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #2. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 82 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Wake Forest University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 51 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Wake Forest University
Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 2,385 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $116,597 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,930 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of California Berkeley
Johns Hopkins University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 1,611 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $111,238 in the first couple years of their career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $14,269 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Johns Hopkins University
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 1,973 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $89,336 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,937.
More information about a degree in engineering from The University Of Texas At Austin
Stanford University placed #7 among the best engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 1,184 engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $107,846 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from Stanford University
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. About 1,227 engineering degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $118,743 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,214.
See the full engineering program report for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Northwestern University placed #9 among the best engineering schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 860 engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $87,403 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,567.
Read more about the engineering program at Northwestern University
University Of Southern California ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,701 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $99,185 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,783 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of Southern California
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #11 position for engineering this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 1,626 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $94,212. Students borrow a median of $17,938 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 2,739 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $88,357 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,628 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Duke University placed #13 among the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. About 758 engineering degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Duke University earn a median of $108,781 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,216.
More information about a degree in engineering from Duke University
Fordham University landed the #14 spot for engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. Fordham University awarded about 16 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Fordham University earn around $59,403 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,643.
Get the full engineering details for Fordham University
Cornell University placed #15 among the best engineering schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,447 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $97,854 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,684.
Get the full engineering details for Cornell University
Brown University came in at #16 for engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 296 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $85,919. Brown University graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from Brown University
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 3,995 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $81,302 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $20,769 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from Texas A And M University College Station
Carnegie Mellon University placed #18 among the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 1,596 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $147,198 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,573 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #19 among the best engineering schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 2,900 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $98,456 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,654.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of California San Diego landed the #20 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,899 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $86,544 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,235.
See the full engineering program report for University Of California San Diego
Point Loma Nazarene University earned the #21 position for engineering this year. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 10 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $54,116 in their early career. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $22,542 in student loans.
Get the full engineering details for Point Loma Nazarene University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #22 position for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 1,169 engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $90,656 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,400 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Chicago earned the #23 position for engineering this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 100 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of Chicago
Trinity College placed #24 among the best engineering schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Hartford. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 engineering degrees were awarded at Trinity College in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Trinity College earn a median of $52,927 early in their careers. Trinity College graduates carry a median of $23,667 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Trinity College
San Jose State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 1,506 engineering degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
See the full engineering program report for San Jose State University
Rest of the Top 50 Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong engineering education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 1312 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).
