Best Engineering Programs

When it comes to engineering in the Boston area, most college applicants think of MIT, not Harvard. However, Harvard's strengths in engineering and applied sciences continue to grow. Undergraduate engineering students have several tracks they can pursue: biomedical sciences and engineering; electrical engineering and computer science; engineering physics; environmental sciences and engineering; and mechanical and materials sciences and engineering.

• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Enrollment (2007): 25,690 (9,859 undergraduate)
• Type of University: Private
• Distinctions: Member of the Ivy League; Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; Member of the Association of American Universities; top ten private university; highly selective admissions

Penn State has a robust and diverse engineering program that graduates well over 1,000 engineers a year. Be sure to look into Penn State's Liberal Arts and Engineering Concurrent Degree Program -- it's a great choice for students who don't want a narrow pre-professional curriculum.

• Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
• Enrollment (2007): 43,252 (36,815 undergraduate)
• Type of University: Large Public
• Distinctions: Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; Member of the Association of American Universities; selective admissions; flagship campus of Pennsylvania's university system; member of the Big Ten Athletic Conference

Students in Princeton's School of Engineering and Applied Science concentrate in one of six engineering fields, but the curriculum also has a strong grounding in the humanities and social sciences. Princeton states the school's goal is to "educate leaders who can solve world problems."

• Location: Princeton, New Jersey
• Enrollment (2007): 7,261 (4,845 undergraduate)
• Type of University: Private
• Distinctions: Member of the Ivy League; Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; Member of the Association of American Universities; top ten private university; highly selective admissions

Despite what the university's name might suggest, Texas A&M is far more than an agricultural and engineering school, and students will find strengths in the humanities and sciences as well as the more technical fields. Texas A&M graduates over 1,000 engineers a year with civil and mechanical engineering being the most popular among undergraduates.

• Location: College Station, Texas
• Enrollment (2007): 46,542 (37,357 undergraduate)
• Type of University: Large Public
• Distinctions: Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; Member of the Association of American Universities; member of the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference; Senior Military College

UCLA is one of the most selective and highly-ranked public universities in the country. Its Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science graduates over 400 engineering students a year. Electrical and mechanical engineering are most popular among undergraduates.

• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Enrollment (2007): 37,476 (25,928 undergraduate)
• Type of University: Large Public
• Distinctions: Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; Member of the Association of American Universities; highly selective admissions; top 10 public university; member of the NCAA Division I Pacific 10 Conference

UCSD is one of the top-ranked public universities in the country, and the school has wide-ranging strengths in engineering and science. Bioengineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and structural engineering are all particularly popular among undergraduates.

• Location: La Jolla, California
• Enrollment (2007): 27,020 (22,048 undergraduate
• Type of University: Public
• Distinctions: Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; Member of the Association of American Universities; top 10 public university

UMD's Clark School of Engineering graduates over 500 undergraduate engineers a year. Mechanical and electrical engineering draw the greatest number of students. Aside from engineering, Maryland has wide-ranging strengths in the humanities and social sciences.

• Location: College Park, Maryland
• Enrollment (2007): 36,014 (25,857 undergraduate)
• Type of University: Large public
• Distinctions: Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; Member of the Association of American Universities; member of NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference

UT Austin is one of the largest public universities in the country, and its academic strengths span the sciences, engineering, business, social sciences and humanities. Texas's Cockrell School of Engineering graduates around 1,000 undergraduates a year. Popular fields include aeronautical, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering.

• Location: Austin, Texas
• Enrollment (2007): 50,170 (37,459 undergraduate)
• Type of University: Large public
• Distinctions: Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; Member of the Association of American Universities; Member of the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference; flagship campus of the Texas university system

Wisconsin's College of Engineering graduates close to 600 undergraduates a year. The most popular majors are chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. Like many of the comprehensive universities on this list, Wisconsin has strengths in numerous areas outside of engineering.

• Location: Madison, Wisconsin
• Enrollment (2007): 41,563 (30,166 undergraduate)
• Type of University: Large public
• Distinctions: Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; member of the Association of American Universities; member of the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference

Virginia Tech's College of Engineering graduates over 1,000 undergraduates a year. Popular programs include aerospace, civil, computer, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering. Virginia Tech has been ranked among the top 10 public engineering schools by U.S. News & World Report.

• Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
• Enrollment (2007): 29,898 (23,041 undergraduate)
• Type of University: Public
• Distinctions: Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference; Senior Military College