The Department of Materials Science and Engineering achieved an all-time best public ranking of 21st in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 rankings of top graduate schools. The department’s success helped the Tickle College of Engineering earn its highest national recognition in history. 

TCE’s graduate programs ranked an all-time best 52nd overall nationally and remained ranked 29th among public institutions. Nuclear engineering moved up three spots to earn top three status for the first time as the No. 2 program among public schools and No. 3 nationally. 

Civil and industrial each rose seven spots in the overall national rankings, while computer science climbed six spots, materials rose five spots, and mechanical moved up three spots. Along with MSE’s all-time best public ranking, industrial achieved an all-time best department ranking of 26th. 

“TCE is in the best position it has ever been, which is a credit to all the work being done by the faculty and students along with strategic investments that have enhanced our research enterprise,” said Dean Matthew Mench, the Wayne T. Davis Dean’s Chair of the Tickle College of Engineering. “I believe the best is yet to come, and our success is a direct reflection of a university on the rise.” 

2025 TCE Graduate Program USNWR Rankings 

• Aerospace (45th nationally, 33rd public) 

• Biomedical (101st nationally, 60th public) 

• Biosystems (20th nationally, 19th public) 

• Chemical (85th nationally, 56th public) 

• Civil (51st nationally, 34th public) 

• Computer Engineering (63rd nationally, 38th public) 

• Computer Science (80th nationally, 47th public) 

• Electrical (56th nationally, 31st public) 

• Industrial (37th nationally, 26th public) 

• Materials (35th nationally, 21st public) 

• Mechanical (60th nationally, 36th public) 
• Nuclear (3rd nationally, 2nd public) 

Contact

Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, [email protected])