Six Standout Engineering Schools - Top Tier Admissions

On a recent list of college majors that pay the most right out of college, engineering fields fill eight of the top ten slots. It’s no surprise, then, that engineering is among the top six most popular college majors. While not everyone has the technical, quantitative, and computer skills necessary to successfully pursue an engineering degree, for those who do, competition for spaces at universities with top engineering programs is fierce. Fortunately, there are some hidden gems and unconventional options to consider, where your application will receive greater attention.

First, let’s consider overall admit rates (not specifically for engineering programs) at institutions tagged by U.S. News & World Report as the nations’ top engineering programs. Spoiler alert: these acceptance rates are primarily in the single digits.

STANDOUT ENGINEERING SCHOOLS: HIDDEN GEMS

But, dig a little deeper, and you’ll find there’s another list of top five engineering programs, this one for colleges that offer bachelor’s degrees only. If your goal is to earn an undergraduate degree in engineering, these diverse colleges can have more promising admit rates. Ranging from tiny (373 students) to large (19,925), these engineering schools have some surprising statistics for certain populations: from an acceptance rate that is over three times higher for women applicants than for men to an admit rate of over 65% for international applicants.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
U.S. News & World Report ranking: #1

Fast Facts:

Located in Terre Haute, Indiana (71 miles west of Indianapolis)
Total enrollment: 2,058
Top Majors: Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering
Fun Facts: Rosie the Elephant is the mascot, and the annual bonfire before the homecoming football game has been said to divert air traffic.

Admit Rate:

72.8% overall
69.6% in-state / 75.6% out-of-state / 65.2% international
72.3% for men / 74.4% for women

Enrolling Student Profile:

Class size is 568
Women make up 21.8% of the enrolling class
43.5% submitted SAT scores / 19.7% submitted ACT scores
Median scores: 1290-1460 SAT / 29-34 ACT
4.08 = average GPA (93.5% reporting)

Admissions Plans Offered:

Early Action, Regular Decision

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Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
U.S. News & World Report ranking: #2

Fast Facts:

Located in Needham, Massachusetts (19 miles west of Boston)
Total enrollment: 373
Top Majors: Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Fun Facts: The Olin Tuition Scholarship offers every enrolled student a 50% tuition scholarship. Chartered in 1997, this non-traditional college has no departments and emphasizes human-centered design and entrepreneurship.

Admit Rate:

21.7% overall
14.3% in-state / 26.2% out-of-state / 1% international
13.4% for men / 41.7% for women

Enrolling Student Profile:

Class size is 98
Women make up 50% of the enrolling class

Academic Qualifications of Enrolling Students:

Test-optional
46% submitted SAT scores / 22% submitted ACT scores
Median scores: 1500-1560 SAT / 34-35 ACT
3.9 = average GPA (100% reporting)

Admissions Plan Offered:

Regular Decision

Harvey Mudd College
U.S. News & World Report ranking: #2 (tie)

Fast Facts:

Located in Claremont, California (36 miles east of Los Angeles)
Total enrollment: 906
Top Majors: Computational & Applied Math, Engineering, Computer Science
Fun Facts: Part of the 5Cs—the Claremont Colleges—Harvey Mudd students can take classes at Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, Scripps and Pomona College. Mudd’s Clinic Program gives juniors and seniors the opportunity to work with companies and organizations on real-world technical projects.

Admit Rate:

13% overall
11.8% in-state, / 18.7% out-of-state / 6.9% international
8.7% for men / 21.4% for women

Enrolling Student Profile:

Class size is 224
Women make up 49.6% of the enrolling class

Academic Qualifications of Enrolling Students:

Test-optional
51% submitted SAT scores / 17% submitted ACT scores
Median scores: 1490-1550 SAT / 34-36 ACT

Admissions Plans Offered:

Early Decision 1, Early Decision 2, Regular Decision

U.S. Military Academy at West Point
U.S. News & World Report ranking: #4

Fast Facts:

Located in West Point, New York (57 miles north of New York City)
Total enrollment: 4,393
Top Majors: Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geography
Fun Facts: Applicants must be U.S. citizens who secure a nomination from an approved source—e.g., a member of Congress, the President, or Vice President, or Department of the Army—and pass a Qualifying Medical Exam and Candidate Fitness Assessment, in addition to providing academic qualifications and interviewing. In exchange for a free education, graduates are required to serve in the U.S. Army for a minimum of eight years.

Admit Rate (for students entering in Fall 2022):

12% overall
13.4% for men / 8.5% for women

Enrolling Student Profile:

Class size is 1,173
Women make up 21% of the enrolling class

Academic Qualifications of Enrolling Students:

Test scores required
Median scores: 1230-1430 SAT / 27-33 ACT
4.0 = average GPA (100% reporting)

Admissions Plan Offered:

Rolling Admissions

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
U.S. News & World Report ranking: #5

Fast Facts:

Located in San Luis Obispo, California (96 miles north of Santa Barbara)
Total enrollment: 19,925
Top Majors: Business, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture
Fun Facts: Part of the Cal State Polytechnic system of public colleges focused on practical fields of study, “SLO” is 10 minutes from the ocean and physically and metaphorically poised midway between the state’s cultural capitals—San Francisco and Los Angeles—with a blend of Northern California sophistication and Southern California chill vibes.

Admit Rate:

29.7% overall
28.2% in-state / 41.4% out-of-state / 34.7% international
24.2% for men / 35% for women

Enrolling Student Profile:

Class size is 5,277
Women make up 54.7% of the enrolling class

Academic Qualifications of Enrolling Students:

Test blind (scores are not considered)
Class rank is not considered
4.03 average GPA (96.8% reported)

Admissions Plan Offered:

Cal State Apply: the CSU application (Oct. 1-Dec. 2)

U.S. Naval Academy
U.S. News & World Report ranking: #5 (tie)

Fast Facts:

Located in Annapolis, Maryland (32 miles east of Washington, DC)
Total enrollment: 4,450
Top majors: Engineering, Economics, Political Science & Government
Fun Facts: Applicants must be U.S. citizens who secure a nomination from an approved source—e.g., a member of Congress, President or Vice President, or Navy & Marine Corps—and pass a Qualifying Medical Exam and Candidate Fitness Assessment, in addition to providing academic qualifications and interviewing. In exchange for a free education, students serve as midshipmen on active duty in the U.S. Navy and are required to serve at least five years in the Navy or Marine Corps upon graduation.

Admit Rate:

9.4%overall
7.9% for men / 9.8% for women

Enrolling Student Profile:

Class size is 1,175
Women make up 31.5% of the enrolling class

Academic Qualifications of Enrolling Students:

Test scores required
Median scores: 1220-1410 SAT / 26-32 ACT

Admissions Plan Offered:

Rolling Admissions

INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO A TOP ENGINEERING SCHOOL?

Given the competitive landscape, it’s crucial to present your strongest possible application when applying to top engineering programs. Our Private Counseling Program offers personalized guidance tailored to your academic profile and career goals, helping you stand out in a crowded applicant pool. Whether you’re applying to world renowned institutions or exploring hidden gems, we’ll help you craft a compelling narrative that showcases your strengths and passion for engineering.

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Dr. Tina Brooks

Senior Private Counselor at Top Tier Admissions

Tina joins Top Tier Admissions after five years serving as Associate Dean of Admissions at Pomona College. Her career in higher education has included extensive experience as both a faculty member and admissions professional. Tina worked as Assistant Director of Admission and Transfer Coordinator at Scripps College before joining Pomona College, where she oversaw all communications and directed transfer admissions, in addition to her role evaluating first-year applicants in the admissions office. As a professional writer and editor, she has published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fodor’s guide to Los Angeles, and many college alumni magazines. Having served as a mentor for Scholar Match, a scholarship evaluator for the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, and an interviewer for the Gates Scholarship and the Posse Foundation, Tina loves working directly with students on their writing, academic and outcomes goals. She holds a B.A. in English with Honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Berkeley.

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