While college graduates with undergraduate engineering degrees typically fare well in the job market, many also consider graduate school to further their education. There are several good reasons to pursue graduate studies. For one, those with a Master of Science engineering degree typically earn moreꟷsome surveys say at least 20 to 30%ꟷthan those with a bachelor’s degree. Some high-level engineering positions require a graduate degree because the position requires more specialized training than an undergraduate degree allows.  Masters and doctorate degrees prepare students for higher-level management and advanced research and development roles, as well as teaching roles.

Many of the leading engineering colleges in the U.S. offer graduate programs. According to data compiled by U.S. News and World Report, here is the most recent list of the top-ranked ones, taking into account factors such as the strength of various engineering specialties.

While the U.S. News and World Report list covers some 200 schools, we have listed only the top 15 graduate engineering programs here, counting down to number 1. While the list contains many of the reputed top engineering schools, it is interesting to note that the report ranks some state university-affiliated graduate engineering programs above their counterparts from more prestigious private colleges. This should be good news for engineering students likely already saddled with loans from their undergraduate years.

Related:The Top Community Colleges for Engineering

Spencer Chin is a Senior Editor for Design News covering the electronics beat. He has many years of experience covering developments in components, semiconductors, subsystems, power, and other facets of electronics from both a business/supply-chain and technology perspective. He can be reached at [email protected].