Best Colleges for Engineering

Engineering is the application of science and math to solve problems. Engineers figure out how things work and find practical uses for scientific discoveries. Scientists and inventors often get the credit for innovations that advance the human condition, but it is engineers who are instrumental in making those innovations available to the world.

Engineering is one of the cornerstones of STEM education, an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to motivate students to learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Particularly, engineers require in-depth knowledge of mathematics, physics and computer applications such as coding, simulations and computer-aided design. This is why most college programs include basic engineering courses in a wide range of topics before students choose to specialize in a particular area.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics the field of engineering is expected to grow by 10 percent in the coming decade. In recent years, the prospects for college graduates have been fair at best, but engineering graduates experience a much more favorable job market. Experts say demand for engineers will continue to grow as governments and industry work to meet the challenges of a growing global population and dwindling resources.

U.S. News and World Report- Education Edition ranks colleges in several different categories, such as National Universities, and programs for Business, Engineering, and Teaching. Here are the top 50 US colleges in Engineering:

1. MIT
2. Stanford
3. UC Berkeley
4. California Institute of Tech (Cal Tech)
5. Georgia Institute of Tech (Georgia Tech)
6. University of Illinois
7. Carnegie Mellon University
8. University of Michigan- Ann Arbor
9. Cornell University
10. Purdue University
11. Princeton University
12. University of Texas- Austin (UT)
13. Northwestern University
14. University of Wiscosin
15. Johns Hopkins University
16. Texas A&M University- College Station
17. Virginia Tech
18. Columbia University (NY)
19. Duke University
20. Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
21. Rice University
22. University of California- Los Angeles (UCLA)
23. University of California- San Diego (UCSD)
24. University of Maryland
25. University of Minnesota
26. University of Washington- Seattle
27. Harvard University
28. Ohio State University
29. University of Pennsylvania
30. University of Southern California (USC)
31. North Carolina State University- Raleigh
32. Rensselear Polytechnic Institute
33. University of California- Davis
34. University of California- Santa Barbara
35. University of Virginia
36. Iowa State University
37. University of Colorado- Boulder
38. University of Florida
39. Vanderbilt University
40. Yale University
41. Arizona State University- Tempe
42. Brown University
43. Case Western Reserve University
44. Colorado School of Mines
45. Lehigh University
46. University of Notre Dame
47. Washington University in St Louis
48. Dartmouth College
49. Michigan State University
50. University of California-Irvine

University of Houston, University of Texas-Dallas, and Texas Tech University are all tied for #87

Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas and UT Arlington are tied at #98.

Students interested in pursuing engineering in college need to do several things to prepare themselves academically and for admissions into top schools. Students should take as many Math and Science courses as possible, especially at the Pre-AP, AP, or IB level. Students who are able to advance to Calculus, Physics, and Computer Science courses by their junior year will have an advantage. Students should also do some research into different fields within engineering, by speaking with faculty,  current professionals in the field, current engineering students, and recent graduates. Other possible activities include joining a professional engineering society or organization in your area, volunteering or internship with an engineering firm, summer academic camps that expose students to engineering fields and degree plans.

Need help getting into one of these top Texas universities? Contact us for help in the Houston area or for virtual college consulting assistance!

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