Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 275 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for engineering students pursuing a degree.
No school ranked higher than Wake Forest University this year for engineering. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 51 engineering degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
Get the full engineering details for Wake Forest University
Duke University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. Duke University awarded about 758 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Duke University earn a median of $108,781 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,216 to complete this degree.
Get the full engineering details for Duke University
Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at Elon University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish 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. Typical student debt for the program is $21,619.
See the full engineering program report for Elon University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #4. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 3,742 engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $89,363. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,493 in student loans.
Get the full engineering details for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top schools for engineering. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 346 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $74,597. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $16,167 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at Vanderbilt University
Emory University landed the #6 spot for engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 47 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Emory University earn around $67,840 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Emory University
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #7 position for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 727 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $84,977 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,838 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Florida landed the #8 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 2,355 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $85,191 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,748.
See the full engineering program report for University Of Florida
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #9 position for engineering this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 2,682 engineering degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $87,336 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $24,572 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 2,341 engineering degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $80,465 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,739.
More information about a degree in engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #11 among the best engineering schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 165 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $70,561 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full engineering details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Auburn University placed #12 among the best engineering schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 1,365 engineering degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $73,710 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,167 to complete this degree.
Get the full engineering details for Auburn University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #13 position for engineering this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $46,164 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates carry a median of $23,013 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
James Madison University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. James Madison University awarded about 69 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $71,176. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Get the full engineering details for James Madison University
Clemson University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,569 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $73,209. Typical student debt for the program is $25,444.
Get the full engineering details for Clemson University
Murray State University placed #16 among the best engineering schools. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 31 engineering degrees were awarded at Murray State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $58,025. Murray State University graduates carry a median of $19,521 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Murray State University
Randolph Macon College came in at #17 for engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Randolph Macon College awarded about 14 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Randolph Macon College earn a median of $40,317 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,706.
Read more about the engineering program at Randolph Macon College
University Of Georgia came in at #18 for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 515 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $73,745. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $23,894 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of Georgia
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #19 among the best engineering schools. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 695 engineering degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $70,576 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,180.
Read more about the engineering program at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Campbell University landed the #20 spot for engineering this year. Set in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 30 engineering degrees were awarded at Campbell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Campbell University earn around $54,629 in the first couple years of their career. Campbell University graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at Campbell University
Bellarmine University landed the #21 spot for engineering this year. Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bellarmine University awarded about 14 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $46,024 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,766.
More information about a degree in engineering from Bellarmine University
Northern Virginia Community College placed #22 among the best engineering schools. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. About 199 engineering degrees were awarded at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $16,790 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from Northern Virginia Community College
George Mason University placed #23 among the best engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 509 engineering students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $87,312 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,093 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for George Mason University
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #24 spot for engineering this year. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 29 engineering degrees were awarded at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $41,723 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,385.
More information about a degree in engineering from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Mississippi State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. Mississippi State University awarded about 858 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $76,572. Typical student debt for the program is $21,850.
See the full engineering program report for Mississippi State University
Rest of the Top 50 Engineering Schools
These schools also placed among the best for engineering this year:
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 · 275 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).
