‘Symbolic of the hard work and talent’: Rice graduate programs rate highly in latest US News rankings

George R. Brown School of Engineering moves up four spots in ‘Best Engineering Schools’

A number of Rice University graduate programs are rated among the nation’s best in the latest edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” rankings.

The George R. Brown School of Engineering is ranked No. 26 nationally, up four spots from last year. Eight engineering disciplines are ranked in the top 30, five in the top 25 and two in the top 10: biomedical/bioengineering (No. 10), environmental engineering (No. 9, up from No. 12), computer engineering (No. 22, up from No. 26), civil engineering (No. 23), chemical engineering (No. 24), electrical engineering (No. 26), materials engineering (No. 26) and mechanical engineering (No. 27).

The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, which ranks No. 29 nationally, has two programs in the top 15. The entrepreneurship program moved up two spots to No. 8, while the professional MBA program that U.S. News ranks in its part-time MBA category landed at No. 15.

“These rankings are symbolic of the hard work and talent of our amazing faculty, staff and students within our graduate programs,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “I look forward to seeing these programs continue to excel in the coming years as they produce impactful research and scholarship.”

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are among the most closely monitored annual surveys of the nation’s institutions of higher education. Each year, the publication ranks professional school programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing, including specialties in each area.

“The rankings reflect our ongoing commitment to excellence across the board,” said Amy Dittmar, the Howard Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “These strides would not be possible without the sustained efforts of our faculty, deans, department chairs and Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Seiichi Matsuda and his team.”

“Rice’s research productivity reflects the scholarship, the creativity and the dedication of our extraordinarily talented graduate students,” Matsuda said. “As the university enhances and expands high-quality graduate programs, we provide more opportunities for bright, driven students to achieve their highest potential and in so doing, positively influence their communities, nation and the world.”

The Department of Computer Science tied for No. 27, moving up four spots from last year, and landed in the top 25 rankings in two specialties: tied for No. 19 in programming language and tied for No. 21 in systems (up from No. 23).

The U.S. News Best Graduate School rankings are based on expert opinions and statistical indicators measuring the quality of faculty, research and students. The publication compiles data from surveys of programs and reputation surveys sent to academics and professionals in fall 2023 and early 2024.

For more information on Rice’s rankings, click here.