September 23, 2025
By Ashley Ritchie

The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering is ranked No. 4 in the nation, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings of undergraduate mechanical engineering programs. The recognition continues the Woodruff School’s tradition of excellence, securing a place among the nation’s top five programs.

We are proud to once again be recognized among the top five mechanical engineering programs in the nation and as the No. 2 public program,” said Shreyes N. Melkote, interim school chair. “This distinction reflects the dedication and achievements of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners. Together, we remain committed to advancing innovation, leadership, and inclusive excellence in engineering.

Every undergraduate engineering discipline at Georgia Tech is ranked sixth or better, with most in the top three. The College of Engineering moved up one spot on the 2026 Best Colleges list. The ranking puts the program at No. 1 among public universities (tied with the University of California, Berkeley). The new list marks the second time in three years the College’s overall programs have ranked third, its best-ever position on the annual list.

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 tied at No. 32 nationally, one spot higher than last year. Tech is also tied for ninth among public universities.

U.S. News’ 2025-26 edition of Best Graduate Schools was released earlier this year. The Woodruff School's mechanical engineering graduate program is ranked No. 5, and Georgia Tech's nuclear engineering program, which is housed in the Woodruff School, is ranked No. 9 in the nation.