Facts & Rankings
The Grainger College of Engineering is a global engineering education and research leader across every discipline. Unrivaled in size and resources, we are committed to providing an elite education to every student at the undergraduate and graduate levels, both on-campus and online.
26
top 5
degree programs and specialties
#5
overall undergraduate program
42
top 10
degree programs and specialties
#6
overall graduate program
Undergraduate Program Rankings
The undergraduate engineering program at The Grainger College of Engineering is ranked #5 overall and #3 for public institutions by U.S. News & World Report (published September 2025). The following list includes our ranked undergraduate engineering degree programs and specialties. Note: U.S. News & World Report does not include Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, Physics, or Systems Engineering and Design undergraduate majors in their rankings.
- Ranked Degree Programs
- #7 Aerospace Engineering
- #2 Agricultural and Biological Engineering
- #14 Bioengineering
- #8Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- #4Civil Engineering
- #5 Computer Engineering
- #7 Computer Science
- #5Electrical Engineering
- #3Environmental Engineering
- #9Industrial Engineering
- #5 Materials Science and Engineering
- #4 Mechanical Engineering / Engineering Mechanics
- Ranked specialties (Computer Science)
- #6 CS - Artificial Intelligence
- #4CS - Computer Systems
- #7 CS - Cybersecurity
- #9 CS - Data Analytics/Science
- #4 CS - Mobile/Web Applications
- #6 CS - Programming Languages
- #3 CS - Software Engineering
- #10 CS - Theory
- Ranked Degree Programs
- #4 Aerospace Engineering
- #2 Agricultural and Biological Engineering
- #6 Bioengineering
- #6Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- #4Civil Engineering
- #2 Computer Engineering
- #3 Computer Science
- #3Electrical Engineering
- #3Environmental Engineering
- #8Industrial Engineering
- #3 Materials Science and Engineering
- #2 Mechanical Engineering / Engineering Mechanics
- Ranked specialties (Computer Science)
- #3 CS - Artificial Intelligence
- #2CS - Computer Systems
- #4 CS - Cybersecurity
- #6 CS - Data Analytics/Science
- #2 CS - Mobile/Web Applications
- #2 CS - Programming Languages
- #1 CS - Software Engineering
- #3 CS - Theory
Graduate Program Rankings
The graduate engineering program at The Grainger College of Engineering is ranked #6 overall and #4 for public institutions by U.S. News & World Report (published April 2026). The following list includes our ranked graduate engineering degree programs and specialties.
- Ranked Degree Programs
- #7Aerospace Engineering
- #4Agricultural Engineering
- #17Biomedical Engineering
- #14Chemical Engineering
- #1Civil Engineering
- #5Computer Engineering
- #5Computer Science
- #5Electrical Engineering
- #5Environmental Engineering
- #13Industrial Engineering
- #3Materials Science and Engineering
- #6Mechanical Engineering / Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
- #5Nuclear Engineering
- #8Physics
- Ranked specialties (Computer Science)
- #6 CS - Artificial Intelligence
- #4 CS - Programming Language
- #4 CS - Systems
- #8 CS - Theory
- Ranked Degree Programs
- #4Aerospace Engineering
- #4Agricultural Engineering
- #6Biomedical Engineering
- #9Chemical Engineering
- #1Civil Engineering
- #2Computer Engineering
- #2Computer Science
- #2Electrical Engineering
- #4Environmental Engineering
- #8Industrial Engineering
- #1Materials Science and Engineering
- #3Mechanical Engineering / Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
- #4Nuclear Engineering
- #2Physics
- Ranked specialties (Computer Science)
- #3 CS - Artificial Intelligence
- #1 CS - Programming Language
- #2 CS - Systems
- #2 CS - Theory
Online Master's Program Rankings
The online master's degree program at The Grainger College of Engineering is ranked #3 overall and for public institutions by U.S. News & World Report (published January 2026). The following list includes all of our ranked online master’s engineering degree programs.
Explore Online Master's Degree Programs
- #2Civil Engineering
- #3Electrical Engineering
- #10Engineering Management
- #5Industrial Engineering
- #3Mechanical Engineering
- #1Best Online Engineering Program for Veterans
- #2Civil Engineering
- #3Electrical Engineering
- #5Engineering Management
- #5Industrial Engineering
- #2Mechanical Engineering
- #1Best Online Engineering Program for Veterans
A Tradition of Excellence
In addition to our individual undergraduate and graduate degree programs receiving top nationwide rankings, the Grainger College of Engineering and the greater University of Illinois have also continuously received praise for our reputation, strength of academic programming, outstanding faculty, and leading research. We are proud to be a leader in our field, providing an enriching experience that will innovate the future of engineering. Explore some of our recent accolades below!
Leading the Field in Engineering and Technology
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The Grainger College of Engineering is #4 for Automation and Control and #10 for Electrical and Electronic Engineering by Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. (2023)
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Computer Science Degree Hub ranked Urbana-Champaign #4 in its 50 Great Cities for Studying Computers and Technology listing. (2021)
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77 Grainger Engineering faculty are listed in the World's Top 3% Cited Scientists. (2024)
- 94% of Grainger Engineering graduates secure a first destination, with an average starting salary of $96,766. (2024)
Urbana-Champaign Community: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
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The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is ranked #4 Public College for Tech Salaries by the Wall Street Journal. (2023)
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The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is ranked #10 Top College Ranked by Startup Founders. (2024)
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The Urbana-Champaign campus has seen $206M+ in new construction since 2021, with a further $400M allotted for future capital projects.
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The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is #23 nationally for advancements in innovation and invention and #34 globally for patents granted by the National Academy of Inventors (2023).