The Chemical Engineering Graduate Program at UC Santa Barbara once again ranks among the nation’s best in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Engineering Schools rankings. Out of 131 private and public institutions that offer doctorate degrees in chemical engineering, UCSB ranks eleventh overall and seventh among public institutions. The chemical engineering specialty rankings are based entirely on peer surveys submitted by department heads at institutions across the country.
As a whole, UCSB’s College of Engineering graduate program ranked 14th among public universities and 27th overall out of 202 institutions. The Materials graduate program ranked third among public institutions and sixth out of the 114 public and private universities. The Mechanical Engineering graduate program ranked 19th among public universities and 33rd out of 183 total institutions, while electrical engineering ranked 13th among public universities and tied for 23rd out of 186 public and private institutions overall. The Computer Science Graduate Program ranked 12th among public universities and 24th overall out of programs at 200 universities, climbing two and four spots in the past year. The rankings continued a steady climb for UCSB’s Computer Science Department, which was ranked 37th overall and 20th among public institutions back in 2018.
UCSB ranked fourth among public universities and eleventh out 202 universities in the percentage of faculty who are members of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) at 10.1 percent. Four chemical engineering faculty, Rachel Segalman, the department chair, Glenn Fredrickson, Michael Doherty, and James Rawlings are NAE members.
The annual report evaluated 202 engineering schools that granted doctoral degrees. Information used to compile the overall rankings included statistical data and surveys submitted by engineering school deans and recruiters. Specialty rankings, such as chemical engineering and materials, were based solely on peer assessments by department heads in each specialty area. U.S. News conducted peer assessment surveys in fall 2022 and early 2023 for specialty rankings.
