September 22, 2026
By Ashley Ritchie

The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering has climbed to No. 2 in the nation, according to the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings of undergraduate mechanical engineering programs.

The ranking moves the Woodruff School up two spots from last year and places it at No. 1 among public universities.

This recognition reflects the strength of our community and the transformational work happening across the Woodruff School,” said Carolyn Seepersad, Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. School Chair and professor. “Our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners continue to advance mechanical engineering education, research, and impact. Reaching No. 2 nationally and No. 1 among public universities is a meaningful milestone and reflects our collective efforts to elevate the School and strengthen its impact.

The College of Engineering reached No. 2 nationally for the first time in the 2027 Best Colleges rankings. It’s the second year the College has climbed a spot on the annual list, which has Tech tied with Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. The updated rankings also mean Tech and Berkeley share the distinction of having the top public engineering program in the nation.

In addition, every undergraduate engineering discipline at Georgia Tech is ranked among the nation’s top five, with most ranking in the top three.

Engineering programs and individual discipline rankings are based solely on surveys of deans and senior faculty members at other universities. The U.S. News rankings are one indicator of the quality of an institution and can influence undergraduates, professors, prospective students, peer institutions, and the media.

Overall, Georgia Tech is ranked No. 29 nationally, three spots higher than last year. Tech is also sixth among public universities.

U.S. News’ 2026 edition of Best Graduate Schools was released earlier this year. The Woodruff School’s mechanical engineering graduate program is ranked No. 3 in the nation for the first time in the School’s history and No. 1 among public universities. Georgia Tech’s nuclear engineering program, which is housed in the Woodruff School, is ranked No. 9 in the nation.