More than 200,000 international students are enrolled on engineering courses in America, making it the country's second-most popular study abroad subject. Whether you wish to become a civil, mechanical or biomedical specialist, this is a great place to gain the skills and experience you need to succeed. If you want inspiration on exactly where to study, we can help. Read on as we explore the best universities for engineering in the USA, according to trusted rankings.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Around half of all students at this university belong to its huge School of Engineering, and they have come to the right place. Together, its eight powerfully funded academic departments are world-leading. That's why MIT is rated as the best engineering school in the USA by both the U.S. News & World Report rankings and the QS World University Rankings. In fact, the latter regards it as the best globally.
The institution has a remarkable reputation for producing cutting-edge research and thinkers. Some of its countless contributions to the world have included the black box flight recorder and the computer that guided the Apollo moon landings. Both were built on a spirit of innovation that has flourished for more than 160 years. Undoubtedly, MIT engineering students are set up for bright careers, with internet pioneers and famed astronauts among many notable alumni.
Outside of the classroom, the university has much more to offer. Located along the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is not far from one of the USA's most exciting cities. You can find out more about that from our student guide to Boston.
Stanford University
This prestigious Ivy League university is another top-tier option. Both U.S. News & World Report and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings consider Stanford to be the second-best university for engineering in the USA. Better yet, the Times rankings place it second worldwide.
At Stanford, you could be taught by renowned experts in everything from electrical engineering to aeronautics. There are nine different departments in its School of Engineering, catering to students of every major specialism. Those that graduate go on to have a huge impact. A great number hold a place in America's National Inventors Hall of Fame.
The university is at the forefront of engineering research, and is keen to conduct it with students from every academic level. As a bachelor's student, you can take part in the Research Experience for Undergraduates programme over the summer break. This funded opportunity lets you get involved with the work of your professors, offering an unrivalled insight into where your field is heading.
When you are not studying, you will find lots to do. Stanford is based very close to the California coast, and one of the state's biggest cities. Discover that with our student guide to San Francisco.
Harvard University
Harvard is a leader in numerous disciplines, and engineering is one of them. The Times Higher Education rankings place it as the best university for engineering in the USA, and the world as a whole. At its John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, you will be among some of the sharpest minds in the field.
As suggested by the equal billing it gives to engineering and science, the school is thoroughly interdisciplinary. It prides itself on having no departments, and instead places its focus on collaboration and the sharing of knowledge between different fields – both within Harvard, and with other organisations. Nonetheless, you can still specialise. Programmes in everything from environmental to quantum engineering are available.
The university is also highly international. Almost 27 per cent of its learners are international students, with this figure having risen steadily in recent years. In fact, engineers studying abroad at Harvard have been making a big impact for a very long time. Chinese computing innovator An Wang completed his PhD here in 1948, and he is just one of many to make his name at the institution.
Not sure which area of the field is for you? Consider the top engineering specialisations.
University of California, Berkeley
As the third-best engineering school in the USA according to U.S. News & World Report, and sixth-best in the world according to Times Higher Education, UC Berkeley has strong credentials. The university is well-known for its sometimes literally groundbreaking research. Its earthquake engineering centre provides vital insights that lessen the impact of faultlines in California and beyond.
If your interest lays elsewhere in the engineering field, Berkeley has lots to offer. Undergraduate programmes here are wide-ranging, with common courses such as materials science running alongside the less typical nuclear engineering. At postgraduate level, you can study many of the same topics, and gain even more hands-on experience.
One feature in Berkeley's favour is its proximity to Silicon Valley, which is less than an hour's drive away. This could be ideal if you are drawn to a career in tech, with many of the world's biggest and most innovative organisations in reach. As part of the university's Silicon Valley Connections programme, you can even visit some of these places and meet the people pushing them forward.
Get yourself ready for studying this subject abroad as we explain what to expect from an engineering degree.
California Institute of Technology
Also known as Caltech, this university places great emphasis on STEM subjects. That clearly pays off, as it places among the top five engineering universities in the USA according to U.S. News & World Report, QS and Times Higher Education. Moreover, the latter two consider it to be among the ten best in the world.
At the Caltech Division of Engineering and Applied Science, you can study everything from the underground to the outer-space. Ongoing research at the school is looking at the use of satellites to capture solar power, the safety of self-driving cars, and the sustainability of artificial intelligence. Evidently, it is intent on finding answers to big questions.
Famous Caltech engineering alumni include legendary filmmaker Frank Capra and renowned thinker Benoit Mandelbrot – himself an international student. Today, around half of postgraduates here are from outside the USA, and they are warmly welcomed into a close-knit community. The university has less than 2,500 students in total, meaning that you will never be far from a friendly face.
Now that you've read about the top universities for engineering in the USA, you might want to know how to apply to university in the country. Alternatively, you can keep exploring the field with our guides to biomedical engineering and automotive engineering. If you'd like to find a course of your own, our simple search tool can get you started.
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