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485 Best Public Bachelor's Engineering Universities in the United States

Cornell University leads the 485 Public Bachelor's Engineering universities in the United States at #13 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Duke University (QS World #26) and University of California, Berkeley (QS World #28) complete the top three. Across the whole list there are 1,630 courses to choose from.

485 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
172Ranked
UW University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh logo
#599 in United States United States
#599 in United States · by research impact
186,667 citations · h-index 175
173Ranked
UW University of Washington-Tacoma Campus logo
#601 in United States Tacoma, Washington, United States

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Public University · 4 courses in Bachelor's Engineering

USD 43,404/yrTuition (indicative)
Founded
4,185Students
International
Admissions open
#601 in United States · by research impact
184,732 citations · h-index 187
175Ranked
NS Norfolk State University logo
#604 in United States United States
#604 in United States · by research impact
178,059 citations · h-index 173
177Ranked
US University of Saint Thomas (MN) logo
#607 in United States United States

University of Saint Thomas (MN)

Public University · 8 courses in Bachelor's Engineering

All 8 courses →
Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#607 in United States · by research impact
175,083 citations · h-index 164
185Ranked
EI Eastern Illinois University logo
#651 in United States United States

Eastern Illinois University

Public University · 11 courses in Bachelor's Engineering

All 11 courses →
Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#651 in United States · by research impact
148,954 citations · h-index 147
190Ranked
SC Saint Cloud State University logo
#672 in United States United States

Saint Cloud State University

Public University · 5 courses in Bachelor's Engineering

All 5 courses →
Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#672 in United States · by research impact
142,048 citations · h-index 137
191Ranked
PC Pasadena City College logo
#673 in United States United States
#673 in United States · by research impact
142,008 citations · h-index 171

By university type

How these universities are ranked

46 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #13 (Cornell University) to #593 (University of Central Florida); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of California, Berkeley has the largest research record in this group, with 58,388,527 citations and an h-index of 1,903. 12 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

The split is 485 public to 0 private institutions. By location, Ohio (2), Washington (2) and New York (2) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of California, Berkeley, founded in 1868. Ohio State University-Main Campus is the largest, with 45,638 students.

Levels, lengths and start dates

Within the subject, the largest areas are Engineering (1,551), Civil Engineering (17), Electrical & Electronic Engineering (13) and Mechanical Engineering (10). The usual length is 4 years and null. 99% are full-time and 21 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (100% of courses with a stated intake). Capitol Technology University offers the widest choice, with 27 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 14 of these universities. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at USD 5,274 a year and University of California, Berkeley the most at USD 44,000; the middle of the range is about USD 36,056. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in the United States for Public Bachelor's Engineering?

Cornell University (QS World #13), Duke University (QS World #26) and University of California, Berkeley (QS World #28) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public Bachelor's 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 Public Bachelor's Engineering in the United States?

485 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public Bachelor's Engineering course take in the United States?

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

When do Public Bachelor's 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 Public Bachelor's Engineering online with a university in the United States?

21 of these courses are listed as online.

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