UC Davis Again Ranked Among Nation's Top Engineering Graduate Programs
The University of California, Davis, College of Engineering ranked 19th among public universities offering Ph.D. degrees in engineering in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of 2026 Best Graduate Schools. The college is among the top 14% of Ph.D.-conferring colleges and schools of engineering at public institutions.
Three graduate programs — civil engineering, environmental engineering and biological and agricultural engineering — ranked among the top 10 at public institutions. All engineering and computer science graduate programs at UC Davis were ranked within the top 25 among public institutions, reflecting continued strength across disciplines.
Research activity remains a significant factor in the college’s performance. UC Davis reported $690,000 in research expenditures per faculty member, representing the second-highest level in the college’s history, following last year’s peak, which marked the highest level on record.
“I am proud of our faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and staff whose work continues to advance impactful research and education,” said Richard L. Corsi, dean of the UC Davis College of Engineering. “These rankings reflect our sustained commitment to excellence and the strength of our graduate programs across the board.”
The U.S. News & World Report ranking annually evaluates engineering graduate schools using a weighted methodology that includes peer assessment scores, research activity, student selectivity and faculty resources. Individual program rankings are based on peer evaluations by department heads in each discipline.
The complete rankings and methodology are available on the U.S. News & World Report website.
A UC Davis news release also highlights rankings for other graduate and professional programs across campus.
