Michigan Tech Graduate Engineering Programs Climb in US News Rankings

Four Michigan Technological University graduate engineering programs rose in the latest US News & World Report graduate school rankings, released today. 

Chemical engineering’s graduate program moved up to 60th in the nation, from 91^st last year.  Electrical engineering’s ranking rose from 102^nd to 89^th. Computer engineering was ranked 80^th this year, compared to 91^st last year. And materials engineering rose to 50th from 51^st.

“Chemical engineering is definitely a program on the rise and it’s nice to get the external recognition we deserve,” said Komar Kawatra, chair of chemical engineering.  

Dan Fuhrmann, chair of electrical and computer engineering was pleased with the higher rankings of both his programs. "We are delighted to see that our graduate programs in electrical and computer engineering are receiving this recognition," he said. " It is a reflection of our deliberate efforts over the past decade to increase the size and improve the quality and visibility of our graduate and research activity.  In particular, we are seeing renewed interest at the master’s degree level in our power programs, which have always been excellent.”

The new graduate school rankings place Michigan Technological University’s graduate engineering programs overall in the top 100 nationwide. The magazine’s latest rankings, released today, list Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering graduate programs at 89^th

“This year's rankings of Michigan Tech's programs will help some of our programs get the national attention and recognition they deserve,” said Jackie Huntoon, dean of the Graduate School. “The increased ranking of chemical engineering and electrical and computer engineering are particularly notable. These rankings, while dismissed by some as highly imperfect measures of quality, are important because students and their families use the rankings to estimate the potential return on an investment in a Michigan Tech education.“

Michigan Tech’s other engineering programs are ranked as follows in the new report:

• Environmental engineering — 42^nd
• Mechanical engineering — 49^th
• Civil engineering — 56^th

Tech's biomedical engineering graduate program was not ranked.

"We've seen some success in the short time that I've been here, and I'm glad for that," said Bill Worek, dean of the College of Engineering. "The increase in some of the disciplines is encouraging, but there is more work to be done to further enhance the visibility of our graduate programs."

US News says its rankings are based on two types of data: expert opinions about program excellence and statistical measures of the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students. Graduate programs are reviewed annually in engineering, business, law, medicine and the sciences. This year, 199 engineering schools that offer graduate degrees were evaluated.

Statistical data considered includes the ratio of students to faculty, acceptance rate, average Graduate Record Exam score, the school’s total research expenditure and research expenditure per faculty member, graduate enrollment and number of PhDs granted.    

Peer assessment data comes from deans of engineering schools, program directors and senior engineering faculty.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.