Where can I find the best engineering schools in the USA?

I'm a rising Junior looking to likely major in Engineering when I go to college. I want to ensure that I attend a school with a strong Engineering program. Any suggestions on where I can find a list of top ranking schools? Is there a specific ranking I should trust, or should I compile information from multiple rankings?

Absolutely! You can conduct a comprehensive research on top-ranking engineering programs in the U.S. from various reliable sources. Here are a few suggestions:

1. U.S. News & World Report: This is a well-regarded source that annually ranks schools in multiple categories, including undergraduate and graduate-level engineering programs, as well as specific concentrations within the field.

2. QS World University Rankings: While this is a global list, it provides a comprehensive ranking of universities, including the best ones for studying engineering.

3. CollegeVine: Even though it's not strictly a ranking platform, CollegeVine has detailed school profiles that give an overview on various aspects of a school—like the quality of its engineering program, acceptance rates, and student reviews. You can sequentially shortlist the schools that rank consistently high in engineering across different platforms.

4. ABET: It's an accrediting body for engineering programs, although it doesn't provide rankings. Looking up ABET-accredited programs would ensure the quality of the education offered.

Instead of focusing solely on the rankings, consider other factors including the type of engineering you wish to pursue, the school's reputation, size, location, student life, availability of research facilities, internships, and co-op opportunities which may influence your college experience.

For example, top schools like MIT, Stanford, and UC Berkeley frequently make the top of the list for engineering, but other schools such as Georgia Tech, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are also highly regarded for their robust engineering programs.

So yes, look at multiple rankings—and remember that they should serve as a guide to make a considered decision, not as a definitive prescription on where you should apply.