April 7, 2026
By Ashley Ritchie

The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering’s graduate program in mechanical engineering has reached a historic milestone, earning its highest-ever ranking of No. 3 in the nation (No. 1 among public universities), according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 edition of Best Graduate Schools. The program is tied with the California Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley. Georgia Tech’s nuclear engineering program, housed within the Woodruff School, remains ranked No. 9.

“We are incredibly proud that our graduate programs have once again earned national recognition as some of the very best, including achieving our highest-ever ranking in mechanical engineering,” said Carolyn Seepersad, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair and professor. “This milestone reflects the Woodruff School’s continued commitment to excellence in research, education, and service. It is a testament to our extraordinary students, dedicated faculty and staff, inspiring alumni, and generous supporters, whose collective efforts drive innovation and make a meaningful impact on society. We are honored to be recognized alongside peer institutions at the forefront of engineering and remain focused on building on this momentum.”

For the third year running, the engineering graduate programs at Georgia Tech are No. 4, placing the College of Engineering among the elite engineering schools in the U.S. and No. 2 among public programs. Tech is tied with Purdue University. The latest rankings also mark the 12th consecutive year that all 11 engineering programs are ranked within the top 9 of their respective disciplines.

U.S. News releases graduate school rankings each spring. The publication’s evaluation of engineering as a whole is based on a number of factors, including research expenditures and publications, assessments from peer institutions and employers, and academic achievements of entering students. Rankings of specific engineering disciplines are based solely on peer assessments by department heads.

In the fall, U.S. News ranked the Woodruff School’s mechanical engineering undergraduate program No. 2 among public universities and No. 4 overall, further reinforcing the School’s continued excellence across programs.