Educads

758 Best Engineering Universities in the United States

Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops our list of 758 Engineering universities in the United States at #1 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by Harvard University (QS World #5) and Cornell University (QS World #13). The universities on this list offer 3,209 matching courses between them.

758 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
100Ranked
KS Kent State University logo
#256 in United States United States
#256 in United States · by research impact
2,655,685 citations · h-index 515
109Ranked
RI Rochester Institute of Technology logo
#284 in United States United States
#284 in United States · by research impact
2,047,712 citations · h-index 525
113Ranked
SU State University of New York at Binghamton logo
#297 in United States United States
#297 in United States · by research impact
1,939,753 citations · h-index 418

How these universities are ranked

65 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #1 (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to #596 (University of Iowa); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: Harvard University is cited most (146,463,495 citations). 29 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

749 are public and 9 private (99% public). By location, New York (3), Massachusetts (2) and Connecticut (2) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Harvard University, founded in 1636. Ohio State University-Main Campus is the largest, with 45,638 students.

Levels, lengths and start dates

By level: 1,640 bachelor's, 399 diploma, 179 master's and 85 phd / doctorate. Within the subject, the largest areas are Engineering (3,111), Civil Engineering (20), Electrical & Electronic Engineering (17) and Biomedical Engineering (13). The usual length is 4 years and 2 years. 98% are full-time and 58 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (97% of courses with a stated intake). New Mexico State University offers the widest choice, with 30 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 24 of these universities. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at USD 5,274 a year and Yale University the most at USD 64,000; the middle of the range is about USD 38,362. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Engineering in the United States?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (QS World #1), Harvard University (QS World #5) and Cornell University (QS World #13) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Engineering in the United States?

Of those with published fees, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at about USD 5,274 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Engineering in the United States?

749 public and 9 private universities are on this list.

How long does an Engineering course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 2 years the next most common.

When do Engineering courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Engineering online with a university in the United States?

58 of these courses are listed as online.

Get your destination country university & scholarship updates

New scholarships, application deadlines and admission guides — a couple of emails a month, no spam.

Stay updated

Get admission alerts, scholarship deadlines & university news — free.