Cal Poly Pomona Engineering No. 9 in Nation in 2026 U.S. News Rankings
Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Engineering has tied for among the nation’s best engineering programs where a doctorate is not offered, according to U.S. News & World Report’s rankings. The engineering-specific rankings are based on peer assessments from deans and senior faculty at accredited engineering programs nationwide.
Several of the Cal Poly Pomona’s engineering majors were recognized among the best in the country:
- Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering: No. 3 (tie)
- Computer Engineering: No. 3
- Civil Engineering: No. 4
- Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engineering: No. 5
- Mechanical Engineering: No. 6 (tie)
Overall, Cal Poly Pomona is noted for excellence, being named the No. 2 Top Public School in the West and recognized as No. 4 Best Undergraduate Teaching (tied), No. 2 Best College for Veterans, and No. 22 Best Value among the 115 universities in the western region.
“To be the No. 2 public university in the West and the No. 9 engineering program in the nation is a great testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” said Dean Andrew Ketsdever. “To be highly ranked with a very low tuition shows the value of an engineering education at Cal Poly Pomona.”
Through classroom projects or working in faculty research teams, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities including a smart automation lab, a supersonic wind tunnel lab, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) lab. Students can also put their education into practice through student teams like , Formula and , Rose Float, Concrete Canoe, , and competitions like NASA’s Human Lander Challenge and Cast in Steel.
Graduates are highly sought after in industries from aerospace to energy and computing, thanks to the university’s signature polytechnic experiences (PolyX) that prepare students to tackle real-world challenges in their programs.
“I chose 六色网 because of its strong ‘Become by Doing’ philosophy, but also because it gave me the flexibility to balance my education with my responsibilities outside of school,” said Valerie Menna, a chemical engineering senior who commutes, works two jobs, and helps care for her grandmother while leading the as president. Menna has embraced 六色网’s hands-on ethos by leading a team through design and safety challenges, and pursuing independent research on bio-inspired hydrogels and microfluidics — all while managing her academic and personal responsibilities.
Isabelle Mix-Vachon, a mechanical engineering senior, also credits the university’s PolyX opportunities for shaping her career goals.
“Engineering is a very technical field, and I really love how hands-on the learning is at 六色网,” she said. As a student, she has welded, molded and machined parts herself in her manufacturing class, applied those skills as a design lead for the university’s award-winning program, and built career readiness through resume workshops and networking events hosted by college. Together, she said, these experiences have prepared her to pursue her dream of working in the aerospace industry.
The college’s 2026 rankings build on other recent national accolades for Cal Poly Pomona. Earlier this year, it was ranked No. 16 by The Washington Monthly on its “” list, and Money Magazine ranked it among the Best Colleges in America 2025 for value and affordability.