Maryland #12 Among Publics for Undergraduate Engineering
The A. James Clark School of Engineering ranks #12 among the country’s public colleges and universities in undergraduate engineering, according to U.S. News & World Report’s (USNWR) 2025–26 rankings of more than 200 degree programs. Overall, Maryland Engineering ranked #21, marking the 23rd consecutive year the school is among the nation’s top 25 undergraduate programs.
“The world’s most promising technologies are developing at an unprecedented pace. It is engineers who will help them realize their potential, and Clark School engineers are leading the way,” said Dean Samuel Graham. “Our undergraduate experience prepares and empowers students to benefit society by combining top-tier academic programs, research opportunities, experiential learning, study abroad, career placement, and more. We are proud to have a supportive community where everyone is welcome and anyone can pursue their passion, and encourage the future’s difference-makers to join us here at Maryland.”
Six programs in the top 20
In addition to ranking #12 among public and #21 among all institutions, six of the Clark School’s departments rank among the top 20 public programs in the country; five rank in the top 15 (U.S.)
The school’s undergraduate research programs are also among the nation’s most robust, working under the philosophy that undergraduates should begin discovering new knowledge as early as possible in their academic careers. Examples include the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Model for Experiential Learning; the MATRIX Lab in St. Mary’s County, which is building autonomous systems to deliver medical supplies, disaster relief, and national security needs; and our Capstone Design Expo, giving undergraduate students a chance to create real-world solutions and receive feedback from industry experts.
In addition to those opportunities—and clubs, competition teams, internships—students can participate in:
The Keystone Program, providing comprehensive support for students in first- and second-year engineering courses, pairing top faculty with students in a smaller setting
Terrapin Works, with an extensive network of makerspaces for ideating, prototyping, and fabricating cutting-edge designs
Study abroad, enabling nearly 30 percent of undergraduate students to have an international experience before graduation
xFoundry, a campuswide entrepreneurship program based in the Clark School
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: graduate, online programs
In April 2025, the Clark School ranked among the country’s top 10 public universities in graduate engineering programs for the seventh consecutive year. Overall, Maryland Engineering ranked #18 for the second consecutive year among more than 200 public and private engineering schools. In January 2025, the Clark School ranked ninth in the nation for online graduate engineering programs.
