Maryland Engineering: #16 in the Country for Undergraduate Engineering

The A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland ranks #16 among the country’s colleges and universities in undergraduate engineering programs, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024–25 rankings of more than 200 degree programs. Among public institutions, Maryland Engineering ranked ninth, placing it amongst the leading public engineering programs in the United States.

“When society’s challenges need technological innovations to solve them, it’s engineers who answer the call. Preparing engineers to tackle those challenges requires a curriculum that responds to student and employer needs, and offers access to world-class faculty and staff, research and experiential learning opportunities, internships, and unique facilities. That is our approach and we are proud that our ranking validates that it is working. We appreciate the recognition of our peers,” said Samuel Graham, Jr., dean of the Clark School. “For those interested in defining problems and creating solutions to better humanity, we welcome you to the Clark School.”

Degree program highlights

In addition to ranking 9th among public and 16th among all institutions, six of the Clark School’s departments rank among the top 15 public programs in the country; all rank in the top 20 public programs.

Department	Overall	Public
Aerospace Engineering	11	7
Bioengineering (Biomedical) Engineering	26	10
Civil & Environmental Engineering	20	15
Computer Engineering	17	11
Electrical Engineering	24	14
Materials Science & Engineering	23	16
Mechanical Engineering	17	11

Continual investments in the student experience

The Clark School offers one of the most dynamic undergraduate programs in the country. It recently launched a new minor in quantum science and engineering and an AI4All initiative, both intended to respond to the marketplace and better prepare students for their careers. Students can participate in the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Model for Experiential Learning and other for-credit undergraduate research and opportunities, or the xFoundry. The successful Capstone Design Expo will expand to the entire school, giving students a chance to create real-world solutions and receive feedback from industry experts. In addition:

The Keystone Program provides comprehensive support for students in first-year engineering courses, pairing top faculty with students in a smaller setting
Terrapin Works offers an extensive network of advanced tooling and makerspaces for designing, prototyping, and fabricating cutting-edge designs
Study abroad has enabled nearly 30 percent of undergraduate students to have a study abroad experience before graduation

UMD is also home to a successful student-run business incubator, Startup Shell, supporting more than 300 ventures and providing a network with more than $1 billion in venture value.

Track record of ranking success

In June 2024, the Clark School was ranked among the country’s top 10 public universities in graduate engineering programs for the sixth consecutive year, according to U.S. News & World Report. Overall, Maryland Engineering graduate programs ranked 18th among more than 200 public and private engineering schools. In January 2024, the Clark School’s online graduate engineering program was ranked 6th among U.S. schools and 13th among online engineering graduate programs for veterans. The number six ranking was the first time that the Clark School received a top 10 ranking in this category.

Published September 24, 2024