CU Boulder further solidifies ranking as top 20 graduate engineering program
The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the top 20 engineering graduate programs in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings for 2025-26.
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CU Boulder is a tier 1 university (“R1") with “very high research activity” as designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The R1 classification includes less than 3 percent of educational institutes in the U.S.
CU Boulder’s engineering graduate program came in at No. 11 when compared to its public university peers. The college earned a No. 20 overall ranking when compared to both public and private universities, tied with Harvard University, the University of Southern California and the University of Washington.
Dean Keith Molenaar said he is proud to see the college continuing to solidify its reputation as a leader in graduate education. More than 1,100 PhD students and nearly 2,000 master’s students are currently enrolled in engineering graduate programs, which include traditional and professional master's degrees, as well as doctoral programs.
“Our reputation isn’t just about our world-class degree programs – it’s also a reflection of the impact our students are having in their careers after they leave CU Boulder, whether it’s through entrepreneurship, academia or industry,” Molenaar said. “Our graduate students go on to lead successful startup companies, pursue their own exciting research careers and so much more.”
In the engineering specialty rankings, six CU Engineering degree programs were ranked in the top 20 amongst public institutions – including two in the top 10.
- Aerospace engineering sciences: No. 5
- Environmental engineering: No. 8
- Chemical engineering: No. 11
- Civil engineering: No. 13
- Computer engineering: No. 15
- Mechanical engineering: No. 17
Also ranked were biomedical engineering (No. 21), biological engineering (No. 21), electrical engineering (No. 22) and materials science and engineering (No. 26).
“I chose CU Boulder because it aligned with my interests, and it felt like a place where I could actually build a life,” said Céu Gómez-Faulk, a doctoral student in aerospace engineering sciences. “Everything feels collaborative, not competitive, and my advisors have supported both my academic and personal growth.”
To calculate its rankings, U.S. News and World Report looks at a range of data about graduate programs, including research activity, peer and recruiter assessments, and student selectivity. Read the full methodology.