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Best technology and engineering schools: 2023 ranking

Technology and engineering schools (1 - 5)
MIT School of EngineeringYale Faculty of EngineeringCornell College of EngineeringCaltech Division of Engineering and Applied ScienceCarnegie Institute of TechnologyPratt School of EngineeringWhiting SchoolBrown School of EngineeringCollege of Technology and InnovationBoston College of Engineering
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MIT School of Engineering
Yale Faculty of Engineering
Cornell College of Engineering
Caltech Division of Engineering and Applied Science
Carnegie Institute of Technology
Pratt School of Engineering
Whiting School
Brown School of Engineering
College of Technology and Innovation
Boston College of Engineering
General info
Academic staffNumber of academic staff. Data is obtained from national agencies such as National Ministry of Education, National Bureau of Statistics, National Association of Universities and Colleges, National Rector's Conference.
Academic staffNumber of academic staff. Data is obtained from national agencies such as National Ministry of Education, National Bureau of Statistics, National Association of Universities and Colleges, National Rector's Conference.264
59
247
300
181
125
170
122
120
138
Crime rate campusSource: university's official statistics, 2023.
Crime rate campusSource: university's official statistics, 2023.0.94%
2.11%
0.44%
N.A.0.02%
N.A.0.13%
1.72%
0.52%
N.A.
Percentage of budget spent on researchSource: university's official statistics, 2023.
Percentage of budget spent on researchSource: university's official statistics, 2023.N.A.28%
5.55%
36%
34.8%
5.67%
N.A.37.6%
N.A.48.8%
Student unionsA students' union, student government, free student union, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities and many high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, organisational activities, representation and academic support of the membership. Source: university's official website, 2023.
Student unionsA students' union, student government, free student union, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities and many high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, organisational activities, representation and academic support of the membership. Source: university's official website, 2023.450
400
1019
1
225
400
400
300
1100
500
Year establishedThe university's long history can indicate excellent traditions and more resources. Source: university's official website, 2023.
Year establishedThe university's long history can indicate excellent traditions and more resources. Source: university's official website, 2023.1861
1852
1870
1891
1905
1939
1914
1847
1996
1950
Total score for "General info"
Total score for "General info"
Admissions
Admission rateAn admission rate shows the percentage of applicants that was accepted by university. Low acceptance rate makes it difficult to get a place, but also can indicate the prestige and high education level. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Admission rateAn admission rate shows the percentage of applicants that was accepted by university. Low acceptance rate makes it difficult to get a place, but also can indicate the prestige and high education level. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.6.7%
7.1%
18%
6.4%
18.3%
14%
28%
9.6%
85%
24%
Average composite ACT scoreThe ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States. The ACT score indicates how hard it is to get into a univeristy and can also indicate the level of educational requirements. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Average composite ACT scoreThe ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States. The ACT score indicates how hard it is to get into a univeristy and can also indicate the level of educational requirements. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.33.5
33
31.5
34
31
32
31.5
31.5
24
30
Average SAT score in mathThe SAT is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. SAT scores indicate how hard it is to get in to a university and can also indicate the level of educational requirements. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Average SAT score in mathThe SAT is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. SAT scores indicate how hard it is to get in to a university and can also indicate the level of educational requirements. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.770
750
725
780
770
735
715
715
560
655
Average SAT score in critical readingThe SAT is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. SAT scores indicate how hard it is to get in to a university and can also indicate the level of educational requirements. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Average SAT score in critical readingThe SAT is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. SAT scores indicate how hard it is to get in to a university and can also indicate the level of educational requirements. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.720
745
690
745
710
705
690
710
545
620
Average SAT score in writingThe SAT is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. SAT scores indicate how hard it is to get in to a university and can also indicate the level of educational requirements. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Average SAT score in writingThe SAT is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. SAT scores indicate how hard it is to get in to a university and can also indicate the level of educational requirements. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.730
750
N.A.745
725
720
700
725
N.A.640
Total score for "Admissions"
Total score for "Admissions"
Facilities
Cost of room and boardThe approximate cost of room and board per academic year. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Cost of room and boardThe approximate cost of room and board per academic year. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.12 744.00$
13 000.00$
13 668.00$
12 507.00$
13 808.00$
11 770.00$
13 390.00$
12 208.00$
11 436.00$
14 030.00$
Campus sizeCampus size in square kilometers. Source: university's official website, 2023.
Campus sizeCampus size in square kilometers. Source: university's official website, 2023.0.68km²
3.39km²
19.42km²
0.5km²
0.58km²
34.8km²
0.57km²
0.58km²
6.27km²
0.54km²
Dorm capacityThe number of students that can be hosted in dormitories. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Dorm capacityThe number of students that can be hosted in dormitories. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.3068null
5752null
7600null
947null
3523null
5568null
2669null
4689null
13000null
11376null
MuseumSource: university's official website, 2023.
MuseumSource: university's official website, 2023.
Sports facilitiesSource: university's official website, 2023.
Sports facilitiesSource: university's official website, 2023.10
27
29
23
7
15
11
9
12
13
Total score for "Facilities"
Total score for "Facilities"
Honors
Position in QS ranking regarding academic reputationThe Academic Reputation Index is the centerpiece of the QS World University Rankings® carrying a weighting of 40%. The results are based on the responses to a survey distributed worldwide academics from a number of different sources. Source: Top Universities QS Ranking, 2023.
Position in QS ranking regarding academic reputationThe Academic Reputation Index is the centerpiece of the QS World University Rankings® carrying a weighting of 40%. The results are based on the responses to a survey distributed worldwide academics from a number of different sources. Source: Top Universities QS Ranking, 2023.1
N.A.24
10
19
42
119
114
N.A.159
Ivy League memberThe Ivy League is an athletic conference composed of sports teams from eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group. The term Ivy League also has connotations of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism. Source: university's official website, 2023.
Ivy League memberThe Ivy League is an athletic conference composed of sports teams from eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group. The term Ivy League also has connotations of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism. Source: university's official website, 2023.
Nobel laureats alumniThe total number of the alumni of an institution winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals. Alumni are defined as those who obtain bachelor, Master's or doctoral degrees from the institution. Source: Nobel Prize's website, 2023.
Nobel laureats alumniThe total number of the alumni of an institution winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals. Alumni are defined as those who obtain bachelor, Master's or doctoral degrees from the institution. Source: Nobel Prize's website, 2023.27
16
13
16
7
3
15
2
N.A.2
Nobel laureats staffSource: Nobel Prize's website, 2023.
Nobel laureats staffSource: Nobel Prize's website, 2023.51
9
28
15
11
4
21
5
3
5
Rhodes scholarsThe Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil John Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for selected foreign students to study at the University of Oxford.[1] It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the world's most prestigious scholarship. Source: university's official website, 2023.
Rhodes scholarsThe Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil John Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for selected foreign students to study at the University of Oxford.[1] It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the world's most prestigious scholarship. Source: university's official website, 2023.41
230
5
6
3
40
N.A.46
5
8
Total score for "Honors"
Total score for "Honors"
Tuition & Aid
Average financial aidA general amount of financial aid for students in millions of dollars. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Average financial aidA general amount of financial aid for students in millions of dollars. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.105.8$ million
120$ million
245$ million
17.1$ million
19.9$ million
30.4$ million
20.69$ million
93.1$ million
59.6$ million
62.7$ million
Grants per year per studentThe average amount of funding that is available for a student per academic year (grants, scholarships and/or financial aid given to eligible students). Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Grants per year per studentThe average amount of funding that is available for a student per academic year (grants, scholarships and/or financial aid given to eligible students). Source: university's official statistics, 2023.32 550.00$
38 170.00$
19 125.00$
38 756.00$
23 332.00$
37 400.00$
29 595.00$
36 507.00$
9 573.00$
24 937.00$
Tuition fee growth rateA lower growth rate for tuition fees indicates that the cost of studying at the university is not increasing too quickly year on year. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Tuition fee growth rateA lower growth rate for tuition fees indicates that the cost of studying at the university is not increasing too quickly year on year. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.3.4%
3.13%
0.49%
1.4%
2.4%
3%
7%
3.6%
1.9%
3.7%
Tuition fees per yearTuition payments, known primarily as tuition, refer to the annual fee charged for educational instruction during higher education. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Tuition fees per yearTuition payments, known primarily as tuition, refer to the annual fee charged for educational instruction during higher education. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.41 300.00$
35 500.00$
47 286.00$
41 538.00$
41 000.00$
47 760.00$
47 060.00$
46 408.00$
9 724.00$
45 686.00$
Tuition fees per year for international studentsTuition payments, known primarily as tuition, refer to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.
Tuition fees per year for international studentsTuition payments, known primarily as tuition, refer to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education. Source: university's official statistics, 2023.41 300.00$
35 500.00$
47 286.00$
39 037.00$
41 000.00$
45 760.00$
47 060.00$
46 408.00$
22 977.00$
45 686.00$
Total score for "Tuition & Aid"
Total score for "Tuition & Aid"

How to choose a university for technology and engineering studies

How to choose a university for technology and engineering studies

The reshaping of our societal model into a technology-dependent system has created an increasingly high demand for science, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals, and there's even an acronym that brings those fields of studies together: STEM. In addition to professional opportunities (which of course, vary across the STEM board) and a continuing partitioning of tech fields that calls for hyperspecialization, the prospects of being involved with new and exciting developments drive a great number of applicants to institutions that offer STEM degrees. 

Technology and engineering schools are expected to invest in continuous innovation; with state-of-the-art facilities and multiplying degree options varying from Computer Science to Aeronautics and Astronautics, choosing a university for your STEM degree is not an easy task. There are certainly many "pros", but also "cons" for each choice, including the financial burden of education for citizens in most countries, as well as growingly-competitive admissions. Every factor must be carefully weighed, and we hope to help you in your decision not only by offering detailed comparisons on leading technology and engineering colleges (such as MIT School of Engineering vs Cornell College of Engineering, or Carnegie Institute of Technology vs Yale Faculty of Engineering) but also by going through a list of crucial aspects to keep in mind.

Academics & Faculty

A college's year of establishment is not only linked to tradition, but it can also indicate more resources, like grants and other donation-based partnerships with corporations, private donors and successful alumni. As an example, the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation donated, in October 2017, $219.5 million to the University of Maryland, College Park. A record-breaking gift for the institution (home to the A. James Clark School of Engineering, named after the late engineer and philanthropist), the amount is set to fund scholarships, fellowships, professorships and other projects; according to the UMD, the donation will "increase college access and affordability, spark innovations that tackle the daunting problems facing the nation and world, and inspire the next generation of engineering leaders". 

The number of programs offered by a higher education institution can also influence an applicant's decision – with a wider range of study programs to choose from, chances are that the number of classes you can sign up for is also higher, and if you realize that your chosen program isn't right for you, you'd have more possibilities of finding your path within the same university. Moreover, many applicants seek double degree programs, which either means the possibility of simultaneously working towards two degrees at the same institution, or of obtaining two degrees at different universities (often in two countries). If this sounds appealing to you, bear it in mind as you check out our comparisons for leading engineering and technology programs, as not every college offers this possibility.

We also suggest that you verify the student to staff ratio, which represents the number of students per member of the academic staff. A very high student to staff ratio could suggest an academic underfunding issue, and a lower ratio can signify that professors have more time to dedicate to each student's academic needs (questions in class, corrections, theses advising).

Tuition & Finances

Sadly, many of the world's top universities are incredibly expensive to attend. You must take into account not only tuition fees (which can, in some cases, be higher if you're a foreigner), but also the cost of room and board – an amount that can be even more substantial if you need to invest in relocating, applying for a visa and paying for international health insurance. Student loans can haunt a person for plenty of years after graduation, and take a big chunk out of the paychecks you'll hopefully receive after completing your studies. Still, as a professional with a STEM degree, exploring an in-demand industry, you may find the investment worth it, but why not look into more affordable alternatives by comparing more colleges (ex.: California Institute of Technology vs University of Pittsburgh vs North Carolina State University, Raleigh)? Additionally, check out our data on each institution's average financial aid and grants available for students.  

Rankings & Prestige

If you plan to pursue professional opportunities at tech companies or if you intend to delve further into academia as a tech and engineering scholar, it's likely that the level of prestige attributed to the university you're affiliated with will be of importance. While your commitment and potential shouldn't be measured by whether you have the privilege of attending an Ivy League college or another highly respected university, it is undeniable that an institution's reputation can open many doors and have an impact in your future. With this in mind, we also feature data that can help you analyze the prestige of an institution. 

For starters, you can verify the number of highly cited researchers affiliated with each university. Released annually and published by Thomson Reuters/Clarivate Analytics, the list includes leading names in contemporary sciences and social sciences research – or, as the research organization puts it, "the world's most influential minds". According to the publishers, "Highly Cited Papers are defined as those that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and publication year in the Web of Science", Clarivate Analytics' subscription-based scientific citation index.

Versus also displays the position of each university according to the U.S. News World's Best Universities ranking, which encompasses institutions from 65 countries. This ranking takes into account elements such as global and regional research reputation, publications, conferences and international collaboration, among other indicators. Furthermore, we have also included the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) in our database; first published in 2003, this ranking is updated yearly, based on criteria such as the number of Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners among staff and alumni, number of highly cited researchers and number of articles published in journals of Nature and Science. In addition, data from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings are also available for your comparisons. Student to staff ratio, doctorates to academic staff ratio and citation impact are some of the aspects considered by Times Higher Education.

Admission

The more prestigious a university is, the more competitive its admission process tends to be. Following your dreams and aiming for the stars is definitely something to encourage, whichever your passions are – so if your lifelong goal is to get a degree from a top technology and engineering program, that means you'll probably apply yourself to get stellar grades and make the cut. However, as equal opportunities are still not part of our society, and life sometimes gets in the way of our plans, it's also important to weigh both expectations and possibilities. To help you with that, we've also made the number of applicants and the admission rate (percentage of applicants accepted as students) available for your comparisons. 

Student Life

Besides academic and financial aspects, elements that impact student life should also play a key role when deciding which colleges to apply for; after all, you'll invest years in your studies, and more often than not, students move to different areas to attend college, starting fresh in a new environment. Engaging with the communities that are built around higher education can make you feel welcome and motivated, so make sure to look into information such as the number of extracurricular activities and sports facilities offered by each institution.

You may also want to consider the aspect of inclusion and diversity, represented by data such as the percentage of international students enrolled at an institution, as well as the percentage of female students, of Asian students and of black students. Although the tech and engineering world is still a male-dominated one, achievements are slowly being accomplished. Educational institutions have a responsibility towards bridging the gender gap by educating their communities and by offering incentives; as shown by StudySoup's ranking of top computer science programs that promote representation for women, Dartmouth College, Harvard and Rice University are some of the major institutions taking steps to ensure the visibility of women in STEM fields.

By Isabela Alzuguir
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