The online graduate engineering program at Texas A&M University was again ranked No. 1 in the state of Texas according to the 2021 rankings of the U.S. News & World Report Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs released Jan. 26. The program was No. 9 in the U.S. among public universities and was tied for No. 11 overall. The program also was No. 14 overall for Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs for Veterans.
The publication also ranks Texas A&M No. 6 in online graduate industrial engineering, No. 8 in electrical engineering and engineering management programs and mechanical engineering is ranked No. 11.
“The faculty and staff of the College of Engineering are dedicated to producing professionals who are ready to engineer creative and workable solutions for current problems and those in the future. We embrace our mission as a leading land-grant institution serving the needs of the state and the nation by continuously updating our knowledge through fundamental and applied research,” said Dr. Sunay Palsole, assistant vice chancellor for remote education.“This improvement-driven approach translates to continuously adapting our academic offerings to help new and seasoned engineers reach their goals. Our national ranking reflects a strong commitment to maintaining and expanding high-quality distance learning, now and in the future.”
The publication notes that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted college classes throughout the country, the need for quality online programs has never been greater.
“Web-based education had already been gaining momentum in higher education, and nearly 3.3 million higher education students enrolled exclusively in distance education programs in fall 2018, according to the National Center for Education Statistics,” U.S. News editors said.
The rankings include public and private colleges and universities with degree-granting programs offering online classes needed to complete the degree. Programs are rated on graduate indebtedness, course delivery, and academic and career support made available to students remotely.
The College of Engineering’s online graduate program currently offers 12 online master’s degree options, with more planned for the future, and two doctoral degree options.