The UC Santa Barbara College of Engineering and its graduate programs continue to rank among the top 15 at public universities in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 Best Graduate Engineering Schools rankings. The materials and chemical engineering graduate programs were both ranked in the top five among public institutions. In fact, all four engineering programs evaluated this year were tabbed in the top 15 among public universities. 

The materials graduate program was ranked second among public universities and fourth overall out of 110 institutions. The chemical engineering program rose to No. 5 among public universities and eighth out of 125 private and public institutions.  Out of 185 electrical engineering programs, UCSB’s ranked No. 22 overall and 13th among public institutions. The mechanical engineering graduate program ranked No. 15 among public universities and No. 28 out of 179 private and public institutions. The 2021 engineering rankings did not include computer science programs, which are evaluated periodically in the outlet’s science rankings.

Overall, the College of Engineering ranked No. 14 among public universities and 27th overall. 

The annual report, released March 17, ranked 200 engineering schools that granted doctoral degrees. Information used to compile the report included surveys submitted by engineering school deans and recruiters, as well as statistical data that included metrics such as acceptance rate, research activity, and student-to-faculty ratio. UCSB ranked fourth among public universities in two key statistical categories: highest percentage of faculty in the National Academy of Engineering (8.1 percent), and highest research expenditures per faculty ($804,630).