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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Rest of the Top 50 Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering ranking:
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.
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).