What factors should I know about how the QS World University Rankings evaluate universities?
The QS World University Ranking scores universities on employability outcomes, return on investment, career results, diversity among faculty and students, and overall academic reputation. For Engineering and Technology, this currently places MIT at number one, with Stanford University and UC Berkeley following closely among other strong choices for you.
When you compare universities using the QS World University Ranking, you are looking at a mix of employability, return on investment, career outcomes, diversity, and academic reputation rather than a single test score. For Engineering and Technology, MIT currently sits at number one, with Stanford and UC Berkeley close behind.
QS Ranking Factors and Top Engineering Universities
| University | QS Engineering and Technology Rank |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | #1 |
| Stanford University | #3 |
| University of California, Berkeley | #6 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | #9 |
| California Institute of Technology | #13 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | #15 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | #19 |
| Cornell University | #30 |
| University of Texas at Austin | #33 |
| University of Michigan | #38 |
QS Rank vs a Popularity Ranking
You should note that a separate popularity ranking based on student interest can order universities differently from the QS methodology. Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Michigan, for example, rank higher on popularity than on the QS subject list, so checking both angles helps.
My Advice
Do not rely on rank alone. Look closely at the specific factors behind it, especially employability and career outcomes, since these matter most for your long-term return on your engineering degree.
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