Many students have asked us which universities are the best schools for engineering and computer science. Using a weighted average of faculty resources, technology grants, class size, and student grades, we have developed the following checklist to help guide students and parents through the admissions process. The list provides a concise summary of these major engineering and technology programs.

(1) California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA

“Cal Tech” is the highest ranked tech savvy university. The school is packed with great teachers and has a niche in California’s tech industry, including Google and Yahoo. Cal Tech is highly recommended if you are interested in entering Silicon Valley and have a knack for inventing new technologies. Its undergraduate program is one of the best for students interested in individual research projects with faculty, and Cal Tech is a key part of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Some key specialties: Natural Sciences, Biotechnology, Space Sciences

Famous Alumni: Gordon E. Moore, Co-Founder of Intel Corporation; Charles Francis Richter, creator of the Richter magnitude scale;

SAT range for incoming students: 2200-2350

Acceptance Rate: 17%

(two) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

MIT is a great school with unique resources for its students. If you are interested in graduating with the famous “MIT” degree and want to immerse yourself in a high-quality education every day, this is a great place to be. With more Nobel prizes than one could count in an hour, they define engineering excellence. Their high contributions from alumni suggest that generations of families are happy with their educational choice. MIT probably has the highest global recognition among scholars and students.

Some key specialties: Artificial Intelligence, Aerospace Engineering

Famous Alumni: Col. Buzz Aldrin, NASA Astronaut; IM Pei, world renowned designer and architect; Robert Metcalfe, inventor of Ethernet and founder of 3COM;

SAT range for incoming students: 2070-2340

Acceptance Rate: 13%

(3) Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Cornell is one of the few universities with engineering research programs that allow students to work directly with renowned professors. With professors like Bill Nye (the scientist) and Steven Squyres from NASA’s Mars Rover program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the best. Be prepared to work harder at Cornell than at most colleges. Cornell’s unique engineering science facilities include the newly built Duffield Hall, representing the university’s next high-tech step.

Some key specialties: Physical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Biomedical Sciences

Famous Alumni: Steven Squyres, Principal Scientific Investigator for Mars Rovers; William F. Friedman, founder of the study of cybernetics;

SAT range for incoming students: 1940-2240

Acceptance rate: 24%

(4) Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Originally founded as “Carnegie Technical Schools” in 1900 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, the school is primarily known for its science and research. Carnegie Mellon is home to the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the US Department of Defense and operated by Carnegie Mellon University. In addition, they house the Robotics Institute (RI), a division of the College of Computer Science. In general, its solid reputation among academics and education journals is one reason why students should seek out this school.

Some key specialties: Computer Science, Software Engineering

Famous alumni: James Gosling, creator of the Java programming language; Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Sun Microsystems; Vinod Khosla, billionaire venture capitalist and co-founder of Sun Microsystems;

SAT range for incoming students: 1940-2235

Acceptance Rate: 34%

(5) University of Texas, Austin, TX

Considered one of the “public ranks” in America, the University of Texas has fantastic resources for its students. As a public university, it spends nearly 50 percent of its engineering budget on sponsored research. UT’s Cockrell School of Engineering enrolled 67 new National Merit Scholars in 2006-2007, the highest proportion of new National Merit Scholars from the university. UT Austin enrolls the third-party academics with the highest national merit at the national level. Also, Texas is a great state with amazing weather and friendly people. Definitely keep UT-Austin in mind when applying to college.

Some key specialties: Petroleum Engineering, Computer Engineering

Famous Alumni: Michael Dell, Founder and CEO of Dell Computers; Rex Tillerson, Exxon Mobil Corp. President and CEO.

SAT Range for Incoming Students: 1680-2055

Acceptance Rate: 49% *

* Please note that this admission rate will be affected by the Texas Top Ten Percent Law, which ensures that Texas high school seniors graduate in the top 10% of their admission from classes at any public university in Texas.

In general, when applying to these colleges, it will be helpful to have someone with experience in admissions counseling. College counseling is an important part of getting into these best schools. We hope this information provides you with key facts about the best universities and schools.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *