When it comes to colleges with strong engineering programs, you probably know the big ones like Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University.
You may even know of some smaller, ultra-competitive schools like Harvey Mudd College, Olin College, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. But there are other great engineering schools that should be on your radar.
If you’re considering an engineering major, take a look at the following five schools. They’ll prepare you for your field while also going the extra mile to support underrepresented groups and entrepreneurship among undergraduates, steering large numbers of students to engineering jobs.
1. Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia
With 15 undergraduate engineering majors to choose from and a number three spot on U.S. News & World Report’s undergraduate engineering rankings, Georgia Tech has everything you’d expect from a top-tier program. It also offers something many top-tier schools do not: a startup incubator focused on undergraduates. CREATE-X allows undergrads to earn credit while learning about entrepreneurship by launching their own business. Those who develop ideas that are ready for the market receive funding and legal services as well as business coaching to make their idea a reality.
2. University of California, Davis (UC Davis) in Davis, California
If you’re searching for a school dedicated to providing opportunities to women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, you can’t do much better than the University of California, Davis. 56% of its STEM students are female. Plus, its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is geared to promoting underrepresented groups, particularly Latina women, in STEM majors offering mentorship, networking opportunities, and other assistance.
3. Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Bucknell University distinguishes itself from its highly ranked engineering school peers through its Engineering Success Alliance (ESA). The program is designed for a select number of incoming freshmen from under-resourced high schools and kicks off with a pre-orientation before the official start of classes. Students accepted to the program are offered tutoring and study groups to address gaps in math and science education—a common hindrance to success in engineering—as well as one-on-one mentorship with a member of ESA’s advisory board, which includes industry leaders at companies like Microsoft, IBM, and General Electric. As students approach graduation, they can leverage these connections to secure internships and jobs from companies represented on the board.
4. San Jose State University (SJSU) in San Jose, California
Located in the middle of Silicon Valley, San Jose State University’s Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering offers some of the best opportunities for students ready to jump feet first into tech. In fact, College Transitions ranked SJSU in the top 20 for schools sending its graduates to jobs in tech and Silicon Valley, beating out many brand name private schools. While on campus, students have the opportunity to interact with Silicon Valley leaders through the Silicon Valley Leaders Symposium—an ongoing speakers series featuring executives from companies like Tesla, Oracle, and Meta. Undergraduates can also join research projects through SJSU’s Engineering Advisory Council, which is comprised of industry leaders from companies like NASA and Google.
5. Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York
Students discouraged by the competition at top-tier engineering programs would be wise to check out Manhattan College where the average GPA for incoming freshmen is 3.4. With its location just outside Manhattan, students are well placed to arrange internships at engineering firms like AECOM and Thornton Tomasetti, and with city agencies like FDNY and the Department of Environmental Protection. The school just built a state-of-the-art science and engineering center that houses collaborative learning spaces and 14 ultramodern labs.
