What are the best schools for electrical engineering?
The discovery of electricity as an energy source is one of man’s greatest achievements. Since the second industrial era, electrical engineers have been at the forefront of fascinating technological advancements. Electrical engineering has produced several amazing inventions throughout the years, such as the first incandescent lamp created by Thomas Edison, power transformers, and electric vehicles. This article helps clarify the subject if you are still unsure about choosing an electrical engineering career. Along with some essential electrical engineering knowledge, this will also cover the best schools for electrical engineering.
What is electrical engineering?
We start by addressing the query, “what is electrical engineering?”, before moving on to the entire list of top universities for electrical engineering.
Our daily lives are significantly impacted by electrical engineering, which is also the driving force behind many modern technological advancements. Electrical engineering is primarily concerned with the study and design of electronic, electromagnetic, and electrically powered machinery and apparatus.
Electrical experts worked hard to make it possible for you to turn on a light switch in your home or even check the time on your smartphone. The commonplace conveniences that we take for granted, such as the ability to turn on a light in the dark, are the product of countless hours of labor by skilled engineers.
The field of electrical engineering is relatively new in terms of academic research. But in its brief existence, it has developed into a field that is very necessary for giving us the conveniences we take for granted every day.
What are the requirements to study electrical engineering?
It is important to respond to this query. Before getting into great detail about what are the requirements to study electrical engineering let’s talk first about the prerequisites for studying electrical engineering.
Candidates for an electrical engineering degree should be fascinated by electricity and its amazing effects on society. Apart from that, you don’t need any additional inspiration to enroll in an electrical engineering degree if you’ve already used your knowledge of how things function from your childhood to build DIY projects.
However, passion by itself won’t get you into an engineering class. For bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs, you must additionally fulfill several additional fundamental criteria. Depending on the school of your choosing, the requirements may differ significantly, but many of the prerequisites for admission are the same.
Bachelor’s Electrical Engineering Program Requirements
Prospective students must fulfill the following criteria to pursue a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at a prestigious university:
- A total Grade Point Average (GPA) in high school subjects of at least 3.0.
- A solid foundation in math and science, especially physics.
Additionally, those who have just graduated from high school must have ACT or SAT scores. Institutions, however, rarely set a minimum ACT or SAT score requirement. Instead, they take into account the score together with other admission criteria.
Master’s Electrical Engineering Program Requirements
Universities have different entry standards for their electrical engineering master’s programs. However, prospective master’s students should normally fulfill the following criteria:
After achieving excellence in a comparable undergraduate degree program (engineering-related discipline, mathematics, or physical science). It’s interesting to note that an electrical engineering bachelor’s degree is not necessarily necessary.
The minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores must be achieved by international students whose first language is not English.
Doctoral Electrical Engineering Program Requirements
The following criteria must be satisfied by applicants from the United States to be admitted to a Ph.D. program in electrical engineering:
- A master’s degree with a minimum 3.50 GPA and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 from a US university certified by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET).
- Beyond the bachelor’s degree, a minimal number of graduate credits. Each institution has a set number of hours required. Additionally, candidates must finish a predetermined amount of hours at the institution accepting them to satisfy the Ph.D. residency requirements.
- A comprehensive test including an oral and written component called the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam is required of students enrolled in doctoral programs.
Additionally, students must pass the thesis proposal exam and identify their research mentor.
International students might need to achieve a high TOEFL score as well as a passing grade on the Graduate Record Examinations’ quantitative section (GRE).
What are the best schools for electrical engineering?
What are the best schools for electrical engineering? It’s crucial to empower yourself with as much information as you can before selecting the best school for you. In order to achieve this, we have compiled a list of the top universities for electrical engineering.
1. Stanford University
Stanford Institution is a non-profit, private research university that is situated in Stanford, California. Leland and Jane Stanford created it in 1885 in memory of their only child, Leland Stanford Jr., who died at age 15 from typhoid. The electrical engineering program at Stanford is unrivaled.
Stanford University’s electrical engineering department, one of the oldest in the world, was established in 1894, nine years after the institution as a whole.
Of Stanford’s three electrical engineering degree options, the Master’s program is the most well-liked.
2. Harvard University
Unquestionably, Harvard University is among one of the best schools for electrical engineering. It is a non-profit, private institution with a location in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was established in 1636.
Because of its reputation for academic power, Harvard is one of the most esteemed universities in the world. The famous School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, which is made up of 13 schools and institutes, does groundbreaking work in the field of electrical engineering.
3. University of Michigan
The third institution on our list of the best schools for electrical engineering programs worldwide is shown below. The Institution of Michigan is a significant public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is one of Michigan’s oldest schools and has one of the best electrical engineering departments in the entire globe. The distinguished Association of American Universities, which was founded in 1817 and was founded in Detroit, is home to the university.
The University of Michigan’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department is home to both computer and electrical engineering.
This department, one of the most regarded in not only Michigan but the entire world, focuses on smart electronics, energy and power, information, communication, automation, and robotics. It’s possible that you won’t learn about these branches of electrical engineering at different EE programs around the world.
Each major is available through the electrical engineering and computer engineering departments. The department claims that in both the US and the rest of the world, US News and Globe Report consistently rate the two majors between 7th and 5th.
4. Duke University
One of the best electrical engineering programs in the world is by far Duke University. The university is a significant American private research institution located in Durham, North Carolina. Methodists and Quakers founded it in 1838 in the present-day town of Trinity.
Duke University offers a degree in electrical engineering, among other subjects.
- Digital System
- Signal Processing
- Control Systems
One of the top colleges in the world for the discipline, its electrical engineering faculty was ranked as the fifth best in the US for research and productivity in the discipline. The university was ranked seventh nationally for electrical engineering by College Factual.
In addition, CNBC recognized Duke University as one of the best US institutions for engineering students.
These distinctions attest to Duke University’s excellence and support its position on our ranking of the best electrical engineering universities in the world.
The Duke Electrical Engineering department also offers one of the most flexible degrees in electrical engineering.
5. University of Illinois (UIUC)
On our list of the best schools for electrical engineering is the University of Illinois, this school comes in at number five. Chicago, the Illinois’ public University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was established in 1867.
The university was ranked 48th in the 2020 edition of the Best Colleges and National Universities. The university enrolls a considerable number of students.
One of the top universities for electrical engineering, the University of Illinois, encourages students to complete at least two paid internships before receiving their degree to enhance their practical knowledge of the subject and build their professional profiles. The organization lists open opportunities and internships for students on its online internship and job board.
Additionally, the university has a program called REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates), which allows undergraduate students to work on research projects over the summer that will progress their careers. Students are paid enough throughout this program to cover their living expenses as well as a variety of other costs for the duration of any REU program.
6. Princeton University
Princeton University is a very modest non-profit, private research university that is located in the Princeton neighborhood of New Jersey. Established in Elizabeth in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, the organization moved to Newark in 1747 before settling in its current location nine years later. It took on the name Princeton University in 1896.
To prepare students to become masters in the field, Princeton University exposes them to a wide range of academic fields in addition to electricity and electronics, such as computer science, materials science, energy, physics, biology, neuroscience, economics, management, and public policy.
The University offers graduate and undergraduate electrical engineering programs that have been approved by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission.
Every semester, the department offers undergraduate students the best opportunity to exhibit their projects and have one-on-one discussions with professors and electrical engineering majors to learn more about the subject. This is known as an “open house” event.
7. Carnegie Mellon University
The Carnegie Technical Schools were founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1900. The engineering program at CMU is rated seventh in the nation (US News and World Report). The university is well known for its distinguished teachers who work with students to address important societal problems in science and technology by combining their interdisciplinary expertise.
The Carnegie Mellon University Electrical Engineering Department offers exceptionally flexible bachelor’s degree programs that provide a strong foundation in the ECE principles while letting students concentrate on their particular areas of interest.
8. Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology is ranked eighth overall among the best schools for electrical engineering. You should think about attending this top university for electrical engineering. Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research institution located in Atlanta. It was established on October 13, 1885.
One of the best electrical engineering programs in the US and the rest of the globe is offered at this university. It is recognized as the fourth-best university in the US for undergraduate electrical engineering programs and the sixth-best university in the US for graduate electrical engineering programs.
Students in Georgia have access to a variety of research options, such as the ECE Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).
9. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
California Institute of Technology (Caltech), which is based in Pasadena, is another private research university. It was established in 1891 as a preparatory and vocational school by Amos G. Throop.
Caltech, a member of the Association of American Universities, is one of the best universities in the world for electrical engineering. Caltech has placed No. 12 in the Best Colleges and National Universities edition for 2020.
There is a balance between classroom lectures, laboratory work, and design projects for Caltech students.
The following subfields make up their electrical engineering bachelor’s degree program:
- Electromagnetic Engineering
- Signals, Systems, and Transforms
- Analog Electronic Project Lab
10. Purdue University
One of the top electrical engineering programs in the world is offered by Purdue Institution, a public research university in West Lafayette, Indiana. The university was founded in 1869.
Purdue University stands out because of its mission to “serve and lead the state of Indiana, the nation, and the global profession of electrical and computer engineering by educating the next generation of engineers, by the discovery that advances fundamental knowledge and its applications, and by innovation and engagement that address global challenges of societal impact.” Purdue University offers the ninth-best electrical engineering program in the country.
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University offers a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in physics and mathematics. Students are well-equipped for careers in the field of electrical engineering.
11. University of Maryland (UMD)
The College Park neighborhood in Maryland is home to the public research university known as the University of Maryland. erected in 1856. The university is ranked as the 22nd-best in the nation (2018 US News and World Reports).
At the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering creates state-of-the-art technological solutions for a range of industries, including wireless networks, solar panels, autonomous robots, pacemakers for the heart, and sensors for pathogen detection.
Electrical and computer engineering undergraduate and graduate students are given the best possible education at the University of Maryland, preparing them to become licensed engineers who take part in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research.
12. University of Florida – Gainesville
On our list of best schools for electrical engineering is the University of Florida. The University of Florida is a large public research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and was established in 1853.
The University of Florida offers numerous Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degrees with concentrations in computers, communications, electromagnetics, power, and photonics, as well as electronic devices and circuits. The department offers two majors: computer engineering and electrical engineering.
With their extensive laboratory facilities and wide range of research activities, the Departments of Electrical Engineering offers both theoretical and practical approaches to electrical and computer engineering.
The ECE department’s primary research topics include cybersecurity, biomedical engineering, software, automotive & aerospace, the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart power.
13. Northwestern University
The second-to-last school on our ranking of the best electrical engineering programs worldwide is Northwestern University.
This private research university is located in Evanston, Illinois. It was founded in 1851 by nine persons with the goal of establishing a university in the Northwest Territory. The organization is the top-ranked private university in the area.
Electrical engineering and computer science are the two main departments at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering.
The department provides master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering in addition to the basic bachelor’s degree in the field.
Depending on their areas of interest, students can choose to concentrate on electrical engineering or computer engineering according to the department’s flexible program.
14. Colorado School of Mines
This marks the end of our ranking of the best schools for electrical engineering. Colorado School of Mines is a different public research institution that is rated as one of the best in the world for studying electrical engineering. The organization was initially established in 1874 to support the mining sectors; it is currently based in Golden, Colorado.
According to QS World Ranking, the university held the top spot for Mineral & Mining Engineering from 2016 to 2019. It is oriented on science and engineering, where academic staff and students collaborate to address the pressing issues facing society today, particularly those that relate to Earth and environmental engineering.
The electrical engineering program at Colorado School of Mines offers cutting-edge educational training, research experience, and project-based learning, as well as numerous opportunities to work in interdisciplinary fields. Specialties include antenna and wireless communications, information and systems sciences, energy systems, and power electronics.
Having all the necessary information is important before choosing any course of action. AdmissionSight is always here to assist you if you have any questions or concerns. We have more than ten years of expertise assisting students in successfully navigating the challenging admissions process.
Consult with AdmissionSight and find out what we can do to help you get into the school of your choice by ensuring that you are sufficiently aware and well-prepared for the application process.