Published: March 12, 2019 By

The College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder remains a powerhouse institution for graduate engineering education, ranking No. 17 in the nation among public universities and No. 31 overall, according to data released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

Three engineering degree programs ranked in the top 10, with seven in the top 20 among public engineering graduate programs: 

Electrical engineering was also highly ranked at No. 23 among public engineering graduate programs.

"Our college’s continued pursuit—and attainment—of excellence in graduate education is reflected in these nationwide rankings of more than 200 engineering schools," said Dean Bobby Braun. "With eight specialties ranked in the top 25 among public engineering graduate programs, students can feel confident choosing CU Engineering for their graduate studies."

But rankings are just one factor students should consider in their search for the right graduate program, Braun said. CU Engineering also has invested in broadening its research portfolio, improved recruiting practices, identified ways to alleviate the financial burden for graduate students, and worked to improve the graduate student environment, he said.

“Research impact is spurred by our outstanding faculty,” Braun said. “Over the past two years, the college has added more than 40 academic faculty members to our ranks, including more than 10 mid-career faculty, joining the already world-class team that has made up this college for years.

“These faculty members and their students are contributing to the economic competitiveness, national security and quality of life of people around the world.”

For the first time last year, the college’s total research funding topped $100 million, and in November, CEAS earned five awards amounting to 117 academic years of doctoral fellowship support for students researching areas of national need through the U.S. Department of Education’s GAANN programs.

The College of Engineering and Applied Science recently piloted a program to waive application fees for qualified domestic PhD applicants in an effort to reduce barriers for prospective students. Due to increased recruitment efforts, the college received 46 percent more PhD applications from underrepresented minority students this cycle than the previous year. The college also continues to work with its Graduate Student Advisory Board to support graduate student social and professional development activities and to hear directly from students about their most pressing needs.

“I’m proud of our efforts to increase the diversity of our graduate student population alongside our efforts to lead academically,” Braun said. “A focused effort on inclusion and excellence is required for the future success of our college and our field.”