The Best Undergraduate Engineering Schools
Whether it has always been your dream career, or you discovered your skills in a high school physics lab, if you want to study engineering, there is no need to wait until graduate school. Applying to one of the best undergraduate engineering schools can provide the hands-on experience you need to prepare for one of the most in-demand career fields. It’s no surprise that engineering continues to be one of the most popular majors in the United States.
According to the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, there are more than 570 colleges across the country offering four-year bachelor’s degrees in engineering. Narrowing down the hundreds of programs can feel overwhelming. To help you make sense of it all, this guide reviews the best undergraduate engineering schools in the country, what makes some programs unique, the career opportunities available to engineering graduates, and tips for strengthening your application to these selective institutions.
Why Choose an Undergraduate Engineering Degree?
Before reviewing the rankings, it helps to understand the difference between a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Bachelor of Engineering (BE). A BS can be earned at most universities and covers a wide range of disciplines with an emphasis on theoretical foundations. A BE, on the other hand, is built specifically around engineering and provides more direct, applied training. If you are eager to innovate and work on projects in labs right away, a BE program might be a better fit.
At top programs, all students begin with foundational math and science courses that build logical reasoning, modeling, and problem-solving skills. By junior and senior year, students pursue concentrations such as civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, or biomedical engineering. Many programs also require humanities coursework to ensure graduates leave with a broad, well-rounded education.
Hands-on experience is central to engineering. At Rice University, for example, more than 60% of undergraduates conduct research with faculty before graduation. This level of exposure to labs, design centers, and innovation hubs is typical at many leading schools.
Top 20 Undergraduate Engineering Schools
Based on the most recent U.S. News rankings for undergraduate engineering programs where a doctorate is offered, here are the top schools:
| School | Location | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | 1 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 2 |
| University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | 3 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | 4 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA | 4 |
| University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | 6 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | 7 |
| Purdue University, West Lafayette | West Lafayette, IN | 8 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | 9 |
| University of Texas, Austin | Austin, TX | 10 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | 11 |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 12 |
| Texas A&M University | College Station, TX | 13 |
| University of California, San Diego | La Jolla, CA | 14 |
| University of Washington | Seattle, WA | 15 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | 16 |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | 17 |
| Rice University | Houston, TX | 18 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 19 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 20 |
Getting into these programs can be significantly more competitive than admission to the broader university. For example, UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering admits about 8% of applicants compared to the school’s overall 11% acceptance rate. Carnegie Mellon’s engineering college accepts around 10% while the university’s overall admit rate is slightly higher. Purdue University, ranked 8th for engineering, admits students with average GPAs above 3.9 and SAT ranges in the 1350–1470 band, far higher than its overall averages.
Some schools also offer combined or transfer pathways. Columbia University operates a 3-2 Combined Plan with more than 100 liberal arts partners, where students complete three years at their home college and then transfer into Columbia Engineering for two years. Similar programs exist at Carnegie Mellon and UIUC, offering alternative routes into highly regarded engineering schools.
What Makes Top Programs Unique
While every school on this list provides excellent training, each one emphasizes different strengths. Here are examples of unique offerings at several leading programs:
| School | Unique Opportunities |
|---|---|
| MIT | Maker Lodge access to advanced equipment. Sandbox Innovation Fund helps students launch ventures. International Science and Technology Initiatives place students in global internships and research. |
| Stanford | Sixteen engineering majors plus design-your-own pathways. Global Engineering study abroad programs. Undergraduate research built into the curriculum. |
| UC Berkeley | Unique majors like Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Engineering & Operations Research. Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation. Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology. Dual degree option with Haas Business School. |
| Caltech | Student-faculty ratio of 3:1 for close mentorship. SURF undergraduate research program. Summer placements at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. |
| Georgia Tech | Eight separate engineering schools. Paid co-op and semester-long internships. Startup incubators like Create-X and Tech Square. |
| Princeton | Interdepartmental certificates in Robotics, Energy, and Data Science. Student involvement in faculty-led research tackling global issues. Programs for teaching engineering principles to children. |
| Northwestern | “Whole-brain engineering” philosophy combining creativity with analytical skills. Integrated Engineering Studies major allows students to customize their degree. Strong cross-departmental collaborations. |
| Wisconsin–Madison | Multidisciplinary certificate programs in areas like Technical Japanese. Undergraduate Research Scholars program for early research opportunities. Strong cooperative education program. |
| Rice | Interdisciplinary minors in Energy & Sustainability and Global Health. Rice Center for Engineering Leadership. Multiple entrepreneurship competitions and funding opportunities. |
| University of Washington | Maker spaces embedded in residence halls. Innovation challenges in health and environmental engineering. Study abroad programs such as Engineering in Rome. |
These differences matter because your choice should reflect not only a school’s ranking but also the unique resources that align with your goals.
Career Paths With an Engineering Degree
Engineering remains one of the most versatile and lucrative majors. Employers project that engineering graduates will earn the highest starting salaries of any field in 2025, averaging about $78,700. Computer engineering graduates are expected to start around $89,000, computer science and engineering majors around $90,500, and electrical engineering graduates near $70,000. Mid-career salaries often exceed $110,000.
Graduates of top programs pursue a variety of directions:
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High-demand jobs at companies like Tesla, Microsoft, SpaceX, Google, and Boeing.
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Graduate degrees at leading universities, often boosting salaries above $100,000.
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Entrepreneurship supported by incubators and seed funding competitions at engineering schools.
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Cross-disciplinary careers in consulting, finance, or policy roles where technical expertise is valued.
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Community development work using engineering skills to solve problems such as access to clean water, sustainable energy, or infrastructure needs. Programs like Purdue’s EPICS pair students with nonprofits to develop engineering solutions.
How to Strengthen Your Application
Admissions to the best undergraduate engineering schools are highly competitive. Here are the middle 50% SAT ranges for admitted students at top programs:
| School | SAT Range |
|---|---|
| MIT | 1500–1570 |
| Stanford | 1460–1570 |
| Caltech | 1530–1570 |
| Carnegie Mellon | 1480–1560 |
| UIUC | 1410–1520 |
| Michigan | 1380–1540 |
| Cornell | 1450–1550 |
| Purdue | 1340–1490 |
Numbers are only part of the story. Admissions officers want to see students who have pursued STEM outside the classroom. Research experience, independent projects, internships, and leadership in STEM clubs all strengthen an application. Supplemental essays should connect your personal interests with specific opportunities at the school. Strong recommendations from teachers in math and science also carry weight.
If your high school lacks lab opportunities, you can seek out internships at local research centers or universities. You can also create your own projects, from building apps to conducting environmental testing, and present your work through papers or competitions. Admissions officers are looking for curiosity, initiative, and persistence, not just perfect grades.
Engineering as a Launchpad
Choosing an undergraduate engineering program is not just about prestige. It is about finding the right environment where you can explore your interests, learn from world-class faculty, and access opportunities that shape your career. These schools offer unmatched resources, but they also expect students to arrive ready to challenge themselves.
Engineering can open doors to cutting-edge research, global innovation, and leadership roles across industries. If you are committed to the discipline, the investment in one of the best undergraduate engineering schools can set the foundation for a career that combines problem-solving, creativity, and impact.
Ready to pursue engineering at the highest level? Our Former Admissions Officers can help you build a tailored application strategy for the top engineering schools. Schedule your free consultation today.