College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools

208 Colleges in the United States
69,546 Engineering Degrees Awarded
$80,241 Avg Early-Career Salary

Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

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.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Engineering in the United States

See the highest-ranked engineering schools offering a master’s degree below.

Top Schools in Engineering

1

Our analysis ranked Johns Hopkins University the best school in the country for a degree in engineering. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 1,189 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $119,438. Typical student debt for the program is $14,269. Read more about the engineering program at Johns Hopkins University

2
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #2. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 659 engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $103,482. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. See the full engineering program report for Stanford University

3

Indiana University Bloomington came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 35 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $52,123 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,542. Read more about the engineering program at Indiana University Bloomington

4

University Of California Berkeley came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 1,074 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $108,405 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,930 in student loans. Get the full engineering details for University Of California Berkeley

5

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #5. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 403 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. See the full engineering program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

6

University Of California Los Angeles earned the #6 position for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 819 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $109,621 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,938 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in engineering from University Of California Los Angeles

7

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 600 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $127,317. Typical student debt for the program is $14,214. Get the full engineering details for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

8
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University landed the #8 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 132 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,380 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,167. Get the full engineering details for Vanderbilt University

9

The University Of Texas At Austin placed #9 among the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 523 engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $83,593. Students borrow a median of $20,937 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in engineering from The University Of Texas At Austin

10

University Of Southern California landed the #10 spot for engineering this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 1,143 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $115,523. Students borrow a median of $11,783 to complete this degree. Read more about the engineering program at University Of Southern California

11

University Of California San Diego came in at #11 for engineering this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 709 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $99,076. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $18,235 in student loans. Read more about the engineering program at University Of California San Diego

12
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University came in at #12 for engineering this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 849 engineering degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from New York University earn around $82,313 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,985 in student loans. Read more about the engineering program at New York University

13
Rice University crest
Rice University
Houston, TX

Rice University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 167 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Rice University earn around $93,092 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,398. More information about a degree in engineering from Rice University

14
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 192 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Yale University earn a median of $73,378 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree. Get the full engineering details for Yale University

15

Northwestern University came in at #15 for engineering this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 377 engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $100,712 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,567 to complete this degree. Get the full engineering details for Northwestern University

16

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #16 spot for engineering this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 1,439 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $118,371 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,654. Read more about the engineering program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

17
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University placed #17 among the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 329 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $109,627 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,216 to complete this degree. Read more about the engineering program at Duke University

18

University Of Chicago placed #18 among the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 25 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $81,002 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854. More information about a degree in engineering from University Of Chicago

19
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Tufts University awarded about 144 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $81,741. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. See the full engineering program report for Tufts University

20
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

Brown University earned the #20 position for engineering this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 177 engineering degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $86,046. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the engineering program at Brown University

21

Cornell University landed the #21 spot for engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 861 engineering degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $105,845. Students borrow a median of $13,684 to complete this degree. Get the full engineering details for Cornell University

22
Dartmouth College crest
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College came in at #22 for engineering this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dartmouth College awarded about 129 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $89,929. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $17,083 in student loans. More information about a degree in engineering from Dartmouth College

23

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 1,133 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $96,587. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,628 in student loans. See the full engineering program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

24

Carnegie Mellon University earned the #24 position for engineering this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 1,052 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 $157,630 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,573 to complete this degree. See the full engineering program report for Carnegie Mellon University

25

University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #25 position for engineering this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. About 890 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $102,730. Students borrow a median of $15,426 to complete this degree. Get the full engineering details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus

Rest of the Top 50 Engineering Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
32
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN
33
Princeton University crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
34
35
36
37
38
39
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
40
41
42
Santa Clara University crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA
43
44
45
46
47
48
Emory University crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
49
50

Additional Engineering Award Winners

These schools also stood out for engineering:

Rank School Location
#53 University Of Florida Gainesville, FL
#54 North Carolina State University At Raleigh Raleigh, NC
#60 Villanova University Villanova, PA
#62 George Washington University Washington, DC
#69 University Of Connecticut Storrs, CT
#75 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA
#80 Clemson University Clemson, SC
#100 Rutgers University New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ

Honorable Mentions

Also worth considering for engineering:

Other Engineering Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Engineering rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Engineering
Associate's Degrees in Engineering
Bachelor's Degrees in Engineering
View All Engineering Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1312 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options