Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their engineering programs.
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 Indiana University Bloomington the best school in the country for a degree in engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 37 engineering degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 1,662 engineering degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for engineering. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 1,201 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $113,399. Students borrow a median of $14,930 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Wake Forest University one of the top schools for engineering. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 51 engineering degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
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Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 674 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $91,141. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $13,684 in student loans.
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Duke University came in at #6 for engineering this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 425 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Duke University earn around $108,053 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,216 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #7 spot for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,565 engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $86,001 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,937.
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Northwestern University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 363 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $79,358 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,567 in student loans.
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Carnegie Mellon University landed the #9 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 675 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $137,089. Students borrow a median of $22,573 to complete this degree.
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Brown University came in at #10 for engineering this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 104 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 $85,772. Brown University graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #11 for engineering this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 1,885 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $85,575. Students borrow a median of $20,628 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #12 spot for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 1,740 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $81,700 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,654.
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University Of Southern California ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 767 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $83,493 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,783 to complete this degree.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #14 among the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 583 engineering degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $104,175 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,214 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 788 engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
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Texas A And M University College Station landed the #16 spot for engineering this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 2,548 engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $79,647 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,769 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles landed the #17 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 957 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $89,798 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,938 to complete this degree.
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Fordham University landed the #18 spot for engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. About 82% of students finish within six years. Fordham University awarded about 16 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $59,403. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #19 for engineering this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 440 engineering degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $104,970. Students borrow a median of $14,269 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 1,086 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $88,142. Students borrow a median of $21,400 to complete this degree.
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Point Loma Nazarene University earned the #21 position for engineering this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 10 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Point Loma Nazarene University earn around $54,116 in the first couple years of their career. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $22,542 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego placed #22 among the best engineering schools. 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 1,240 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $78,308 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,235 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus came in at #23 for engineering this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 2,524 engineering degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $80,871 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,445 to complete this degree.
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Trinity College came in at #24 for engineering this year. Located in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Trinity College generally make around $52,927. Typical student debt for the program is $23,667.
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Elon University earned the #25 position for engineering this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. Elon University awarded about 25 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Elon University earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,619 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:
The ranking above is published 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).
