U.S. News & World Report, which maintains one of the most prominent rankings systems for institutions of higher education, recently updated its list of the Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs. As of January 2019, the online engineering degree program at University of California – Riverside (UCR) ranked #33, a major jump from #51 place the previous year.
Separately, Online Masters ranked the mechanical engineering specialization – one of six available in the UCR Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) – 20th in its Best Online Masters in Mechanical Engineering Programs. These two distinctions underscore the high value of an online engineering degree from UCR.
What factors into engineering program rankings?
The U.S. News college rankings mainly consider the academic reputation of each school, along with its admissions selectivity and the credentials of its faculty. Almost 100 online engineering programs were ranked for 2019.
The exact formula places equal weight – 25 percent each – on student-instructor engagement, faculty quality, and the expert opinion of academic officials in the field. The remaining quarter is split between student excellence and program services/technologies.
Online Masters employs a similar methodology. Academic quality, including graduation rates and faculty credentials, makes up 40 percent of the total, as does student success. The remaining 20 percent pertains to program affordability.
How UCR MSE stacked up in the 2019 best college rankings
The UCR online engineering degree program earned particularly high marks from U.S. News & World Report for student excellence (4th) and faculty credentials (14th). Online Masters likewise gave the “Most Accelerated” badge to the mechanical engineering track, reflecting its unique structure that enables completion in only 13 months.
An online graduate degree program should combine rigor and flexibility. That combination makes it a perfect fit for working professionals seeking to advance their careers within the context of other commitments. At UCR, students work toward their degrees without having to complete a residency along the way.
The online engineering curriculum is current and comprehensive. Taught by industry-leading faculty, it covers core concepts in the managerial and technical aspects of engineering and then branches out into multiple concentrations, such as mechanical engineering and data science.
Students finish the program with a sequence of capstone courses that help them apply their research interests in the real world. After graduation, the UCR MSE can be a valuable asset in pursuing careers such has power grid engineer, data scientist, and chemist.
If you are looking for an online engineering degree program with a track record of excellence, learn more about the UCR MSE on our main program page.
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