Ranking colleges is a controversial process. Multiple factors must be considered, many of which are subjective or not easily quantifiable. So, how do you rank a college for its engineering department? On the strength of its graduate program? Or for the average SAT scores of incoming freshman? Maybe on its reputation among educators and businesses? With so many ways to measure a program, it’s easy to see why ranking the top engineering colleges must be taken with a speck of skepticism.
Nevertheless, humans being humans, we love to rank and sort. The following list of top 10 engineering colleges is derived from several of the most popular ranking lists out there, including the U. S. News & World Reports list, which is the Big Daddy of college rankings. Because positions within the top 10 are constantly shifting — and also because the differences in quality among the schools are debatable — the list below is not ordered according to rank. The top three schools on this list, however, are almost always listed in first, second, or third place on most lists.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from Boston. A private institution, it’s one of the most prestigious science education institutions in the world. Very tough to get into: 9.7% admission rate.
Stanford University
Stanford is about 30 minutes south of San Francisco, California. A world-renowned private institution, Stanford offers incoming students all the benefits of a liberal arts education as well as rigorous science programs and research facilities.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California at Berkeley is located across the bay from the city of San Francisco. “Cal,” as it’s affectionately called by students and alumni, consistently ranks as the #1 public university in the country.
California Institute of Technology
Also known as Caltech, this private institution is located in Pasadena, California, just north of Los Angeles. Small for an institute of higher learning, it has only a little over 2,000 students enrolled.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech, a public school, is located in Atlanta, Georgia, on a 400-acre urban campus. The college of engineering at Georgia Tech produces the most women engineers in the country, according to the American Society of Engineering Education.
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign and its twin city Urbana. A large public institution, UIUC has over 43,000 students enrolled.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This college is also large, with about 41,000 students enrolled. The town of Ann Arbor is frequently described as one of the best college towns in the country.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded by industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, it offers a highly regarded science and technology program.
Cornell University
Cornell University is located in a rural area near the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, in the small town of Ithaca.
Purdue University
Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and is the main campus of the Indiana state university system. Each college on this list has great facilities, top-notch faculty, and a world-class reputation. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.
Related Articles:
College Rankings
College Rankings: Helpful or Hurtful?
Add your own comment