Engineering is one of the most popular studies in the USA and all around the world. There are several top engineering universities in the USA.
These universities are highly revered and have a rich history of teaching and producing the best engineers. Generally, programs are available as a bachelor's program, master's program, and doctoral program.
Some universities also provide post-graduate diplomas and post-graduate certificate programs. Students can choose to concentrate their study in a wide range of fields including electronics, agriculture, biomedical, and aerospace.
The job scope of engineering graduates is promising in the USA as several thousand new jobs are created in the field of engineering.
Top Engineering Universities in the USA
Best Universities in the USA for engineering programs based on QS Ranking-
Rank (QS 2022 world) |
University |
1 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
3 |
Stanford University |
5 |
Harvard University |
6 |
California Institute of Technology |
20 |
Princeton University |
30 |
Northwestern University |
32 |
University of California-Berkley |
40 |
University of California, Los Angeles |
53 |
Carnegie Mellon University |
67 |
The University of Texas at Austin |
82 |
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
88 |
Georgia Institute of Technology |
112 |
Boston University |
116 |
Purdue University |
168 |
Texas A&M University |
Top Engineering Universities in the USA: Bachelor of Engineering
An undergraduate degree in Engineering is offered as a Bachelor of Science in engineering. Generally, students enrol in an undergraduate engineering program undeclared.
After the first year, students are required to choose an engineering discipline as a major and choose courses accordingly.
The course duration is 4 years and the tuition fee ranges from $27,000 to $58,000 per year.
University |
Program |
Tuition Fee |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$55,510 |
Stanford University |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$40,050 |
Princeton University |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$56,010 |
Northwestern University |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$60,276 |
University of California, Los Angeles |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$42,217 |
Carnegie Mellon University |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$59,864 |
The University of Texas at Austin |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$44,042 |
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$35,110 - $42,796 |
Georgia Institute of Technology |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$31,370 |
Boston University |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$58,560 |
Purdue University |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$32,844 |
Texas A&M University |
Bachelor of Science in Engineering |
$27,000 |
Eligibility Criteria
Document Checklist:
- Official Transcript
- Recommendations
- Official Test Scores
- A score on English Language Test
Academic Requirement:
Completion of higher secondary education from a recognized higher secondary education board is required.
English Language Requirement:
As a part of the English language requirement, international students are required to submit proof of proficiency in English. For this students can submit IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo English test scores. Generally, there is no minimum score but a score of 6.5 in IELTS or a score of 80 to 100 in TOEFL, or a score of 120 in DET is generally expected.
SAT or ACT requirement:
Standardized test scores such as SAT or ACT requirement is dependent on the university as several universities have waived its requirement.
Top Engineering Universities in the USA: Undergraduate majors for engineering
Check out the list of majors for Bachelor of Science in engineering in universities in the USA.
- Aerospace Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Marine Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Automobile Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Agricultural Engineering
Top Engineering Universities in the USA: Master of Engineering
A master's degree in engineering in the USA is generally offered as a Master of Science degree and a master of engineering degree.
There is also an option to complete an MS degree with or without a thesis. Generally, it takes 2 years to complete an MS degree whereas an MEng degree is generally completed in one and half years.
University |
Program |
Tuition Fee Per Year |
Stanford University |
Master of Science in Engineering |
$66,297 |
Princeton University |
Master of Science in Engineering |
$56,010 |
Master of Engineering |
||
Northwestern University |
Master of Science in Engineering |
$48,000 - $60,000 |
Carnegie Mellon University |
Master of Science in Engineering |
$50,100 |
The University of Texas at Austin |
Master of Science in Engineering |
$19,320 |
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Master of Engineering |
$28,464 |
Georgia Institute of Technology |
Master of Science in Engineering |
$29,140 |
Boston University |
Master of Science in Engineering |
$58,560 |
Master of Engineering |
||
Purdue University |
Master of Science in Engineering |
$28,794 |
Texas A&M University |
Master of Science in Engineering |
$35,106 |
Master of Engineering |
Eligibility Criteria
Document Checklist:
- Official Transcripts
- Proof of Funds
- Official Test Scores
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
Academic Requirement:
A bachelor of engineering or equivalent degree from a recognized university with a minimum GPA of 2.7 to 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. The field of study must be relevant to the intended field of study.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores requirement
Most of the universities in the USA have reestablished their GRE requirement for admission into a graduate-level engineering program. Most universities do not have a minimum requirement for GRE scores and assess applications not just on the standard test scores but holistically.
Proof of English Language Proficiency
International students from non-English speaking countries is required to demonstrate proficiency in English through English language test scores. Several universities do not have any minimum test score, however, students can aspect the following test scores to be sufficient.
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 with at least 6.0 to 6.5 in each band.
- A TOEFL score of 90 to 100 with at least 18 to 23 in each section.
- A Duolingo English Test score of 120.
Top Engineering Universities in the USA: PhD in Engineering
The following list of universities provides a doctoral program in Engineering. The duration of a Ph.D. program is highly dependent upon the field of research and the average duration for completion is 5 years. The tuition fee is similar to that of a graduate program but doctoral programs are generally fully funded. Most universities provide 100% of their students with financial aid that includes tuition waivers and stipends.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- California Institute of Technology
- Princeton University
- Northwestern University
- University of California-Berkley
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Carnegie Mellon University
- The University of Texas at Austin
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Boston University
- Purdue University
- Texas A&M University
Admission Requirements
Document Checklist:
- Online Application
- Official Transcripts
- Resume
- Letter of recommendations (2 to 3)
- Statement of purpose
- Official test scores
Academic Requirement:
- A bachelor's degree from a recognized university in a relevant field with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to 3.2 on a 4.0 scale is required or,
- A master of science degree in a related field
English Language requirement:
Most of universities in the US do not specify minimum scores in English tests, however, the following test scores are considered sufficient for entry into a doctoral program.
- An IELTS score of 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each band
- A TOEFL score of 90 to 100 overall and at least 20 in each section.
- A DET (DuoLingo English test) score of 120.
GRE score requirement:
The requirement of GRE scores as a part of the application process is dependent upon the university. Some universities have reestablished the requirement while some universities have dropped the requirement completely and offer no advantage even if the applicant submits the score.
Top Engineering Universities in the USA: Scholarships
The following list provides a glimpse of financial aid opportunities provided to international students in US universities.
Undergraduate students are only limited to scholarships awarded by the university or external scholarships whereas graduate students may acquire different types of graduate positions that come with their own set of perquisites.
University |
Scholarships |
Amount |
Stanford University |
GEM Fellowship Program |
Up to $20,000 |
Harvard University |
The Rossiter Family Scholarship |
$10,000 |
Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program |
Varies |
|
Northwestern University |
Karr Achievement Scholarship |
$2500 |
The University of Texas at Austin |
Jerry D. Wilcox Community Engagement Scholarship |
$3500 |
International Education Fee (IEF) |
Varies |
|
General ISSS Financial Aid award |
$4000 for the fall and spring semester and $2500 for the summer semester |
|
Texas A&M University |
Eppright Outstanding International Student Award |
$2000 |
International Education Fee Scholarship |
Varies |
Top Engineering Universities in the USA: Scope
An engineering program requires the completion of courses in several disciplines in order to be completed which allows an engineer to acquire a wide range of skills and knowledge consequently making them eligible for different roles.
The median salary of engineers in the USA according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics 2016 is $91,000 and the top four engineering discipline in terms of annual salary is petroleum engineering, computer hardware engineering, aerospace engineering, and nuclear engineering.
The following table lists out the median annual salary of different engineering disciplines in US.
Engineering Discipline |
Annual Median Salary |
Petroleum Engineer |
$128,230 |
Computer Hardware Engineer |
$115,080 |
Aerospace Engineer |
$109,650 |
Nuclear Engineer |
$102,220 |
Electronics Engineer |
$99,210 |
Chemical Engineers |
$98,340 |
Electrical Engineers |
$94,210 |
Mining and Geological Engineers |
$93,720 |
Marine Engineers and Naval Architect |
$93,350 |
Material Engineers |
$93,310 |
Biomedical Engineers |
$85,620 |
Mechanical Engineers |
$84,190 |
Industrial Engineers |
$84,310 |