Clean Sweep: Duke Engineering Graduate Programs All Rank in Top 25

For the first time, all seven of Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering’s graduate programs were ranked within the top 25 by U.S. News and World Report. Overall, Duke Engineering ranked #22, holding steadfast within the top 25 for the eighth year in a row.

Duke Engineering’s programs in biomedical engineering and environmental engineering both ranked within the top 10, at #6 and #9, respectively.

“The continued excellence of our programs across the board is the result of exceptional efforts by our faculty and staff to train tomorrow’s engineering leaders,” said Jerome Lynch, the Vinik Dean of the Pratt School of Engineering. “These rankings are a reflection of our recognized impact in engineering an innovative, smart, healthy and sustainable society that uplifts all people.”

Biomedical Engineering

One of the first and most innovative biomedical engineering departments in the world, Duke BME ranked #6 in the country for its graduate program. The department is home to more than 50 faculty members with a research portfolio exceeding $49 million in FY25.

Long a pipeline of efforts to translate benchtop findings to clinical impact, Duke’s collaboration with the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation has turned $15 million in grants into $1.24 billion in follow-on funding while launching 17 companies that bring life-changing therapies to market.

With historical and continued strengths in biomedical imaging innovation, the department is a hotbed of forward-looking research in complex biologics, digital health and medicine, neuroengineering, and health disparities.

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Ranking #9 overall amongst its peers, the environmental engineering program features numerous connections and collaborations with Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment. For example, the joint Design Climate program connects teams of students with industry and community partners to get hands-on experience while solving real-world problems linked to mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Leveraging more connections with Duke’s other top-tier programs in law, business and policy, the school also recently graduated its first class of students from its Climate and Sustainability Engineering Master of Engineering program. Building expertise beyond traditional engineering subject matter, the program prepares professionals to implement nimble solutions for a rapidly changing landscape.

The school is also home to the Precision Microbiome Engineering Research Center. Called PreMiEr and funded by $26 million from the National Science Foundation, the center aims to develop diagnostic tools and engineering approaches that promote building designs for preventing the colonization of harmful bacteria, fungi or viruses while encouraging beneficial microorganisms.

Civil engineering, meanwhile, was the school’s program with the largest movement, climbing seven spots to #24 overall. Beyond traditional research topics pursued within civil engineering programs, the school boasts innovative programs in risk engineering as well as computational mechanics and scientific computing.

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Computer & Electrical Engineering

Duke’s Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering programs retained their positions among the top 20 with their peers, ranking #19 and #15, respectively. At #15, Duke’s Electrical Engineering graduate program achieved its highest ranking in history, having moved consistently upward from #27 just a decade ago.

Bolstered by a recent landmark $57 million investment in Duke ECE from the family of Pierre R. Lamond, these programs are poised to deepen and expand its work in semiconductors, nanoelectronics, and computer engineering. The department features 60 tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty members, whose combined research expenditures totaled $37.5 million in FY25. The department continues to expand its footprint in the realms of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, full-stack hardware design and cybersecurity.

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Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

After breaking into the top 25 three years ago, Duke’s Mechanical Engineering program continues to rise to #20 overall.

Long recognized for its leadership in aerospace-based computational mechanics and dynamics, the program also now boasts a growing reputation in autonomous systems, robotics and biomechanics.

Duke’s Materials Engineering program, meanwhile, ranked #25, remaining within the top 25 programs for the second year in a row. The school’s program in materials science continues to be led by the Duke Materials Initiative, which enables bold, innovative and transformative materials science and engineering advances that are only possible when extending beyond and crossing the boundaries between traditional disciplines. Duke’s MEMS Department also recently launched two new master’s programs that reflect its growing presence in two key areas: a Master of Engineering in Robotics and Autonomy and a Master of Engineering in AI + Materials.