Many students have asked us which are the best engineering and computer science schools. Using a weighted average of faculty resources, technology grants, class size, and student grades, we have developed the following list to help guide students and parents through the admissions process. The list provides a concise summary of these top engineering and technology programs.
(one) California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
“Cal Tech” is the top ranked tech-savvy university. The school is full of 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 getting into Silicon Valley and have a knack for inventing new technology. Its undergraduate program is one of the best for students interested in individual research projects with professors 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 the 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 be immersed in a high-quality education every day, then this is a great place to be. With more Nobel Prize winners than one could count in an hour, they define engineering excellence. Its high alumni donations suggest that generations of families are happy with their educational choice. MIT probably has the highest name recognition in the world 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, New York
Cornell is one of the few universities with engineering research programs that allow students to work directly with renowned professors. With instructors like Bill Nye (the scientist) and Steven Squyres from NASA’s Mars Rover program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the best. Prepare to work harder at Cornell than at most universities. Cornell’s unique engineering science facilities include the newly constructed Duffield Hall, which represents the university’s next high-tech step.
Some key specialties: Engineering Physics, Nanotechnology, Biomedical Sciences
Famous Alumni: Steven Squyres, Principal Investigator Scientist for the 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, Pennsylvania
Originally founded as “Carnegie Technical Schools” in 1900 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, the school is known primarily 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. Additionally, they house the Robotics Institute (RI), a division of the School of Computer Science. Overall, its strong reputation among scholars and educational 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, Texas
Considered one of the “public ivy” in the United States, 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 largest proportion of new National Merit Scholars in the university. UT Austin enrolls the third highest national merit scholars nationwide. Also, Texas is a great state with amazing weather and friendly people. Definitely keep UT-Austin in mind when you apply 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 who graduate in the top 10% of their class are admitted to any Texas public university.
In general, when applying to these colleges, it will be helpful to have someone with admissions counseling experience. College counseling is an important part of getting into these top schools. We hope this information provides you with key facts about the best colleges and schools.
