The engineering degree programs that Penn State offers online have been ranked by U.S. News among the best of the colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and across the country in 2025. Credit: Penn State
World Campus engineering programs ranked one of nation’s ‘Best Online Programs’ by U.S. News
Jan 21, 2025
Editor’s note: A version of this story originally appeared on Penn State News.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Several engineering programs offered by Penn State World Campus were recently ranked as some of the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
With more 19,000 students enrolled in its degree programs annually, Penn State World Campus is one of the largest institutions to be ranked by U.S. News. Its offerings include a comprehensive selection of degree and certificate programs in business, engineering, technology, nursing, health care, education and more at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels.
U.S. News ranked Penn State World Campus in the top 10 nationwide of the more than 100 colleges and universities that offer master’s degrees in engineering, at No. 4. The portfolio of bachelor’s degrees offered through Penn State World Campus is ranked highly, at No. 39, among 350 regional, state-level and national public and private institutions.
Penn State World Campus is one of the top institutions in Pennsylvania for online education with a broad selection of Penn State degrees: 41 bachelor’s degrees and 49 master’s degrees. U.S. News ranked its bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees in education, engineering and technology as the best of all the colleges and universities in the state.
Engineering rankings
To compile the rankings each year, U.S. News requests that colleges and universities complete a statistical survey with questions about their engagement, services and technology, and faculty credentials and training. For master’s programs rankings, U.S. News includes questions about student excellence in the survey.
U.S. News also factors in a peer assessment to the rankings. It requested that high-ranking leaders at colleges and universities that offer degree programs online evaluate the academic quality of their peers’ programs.
Here are the rankings for engineering programs available at Penn State World Campus for 2025:
- “Best Online Programs” - No. 4, Master’s in Engineering Programs
- “Best Online Programs” - No. 39 (tie), Bachelor’s Programs
- “Best Online Programs for Veterans” - No. 2, Master’s in Engineering Programs for Veterans
- “Best Online Programs for Veterans” - No. 21 (tie), Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans
The “Best Online Programs” 2025 edition also includes rankings of specific disciplines within the program categories. These specialty program rankings were measured by U.S. News through the assessments from peers in higher education.
Here are the specialty rankings for engineering degree programs available at Penn State World Campus:
- 3 (tie), Master’s in Engineering Management Programs
- 3 (tie), Master’s in Mechanical Engineering Programs
- 4, Master’s in Industrial Engineering Programs
- 13 (tie), Master’s in Electrical Engineering Program
About Penn State World Campus
Penn State was one of the first major universities in the United States to offer an education online, starting with its first courses in 1998 and its first degree in 2000.
Today, Penn State World Campus is an integral part of Penn State that offers a comprehensive selection of bachelor’s and master’s degrees that can be completed online asynchronously.
Penn State faculty teach online for Penn State World Campus, and the degrees are based on the programs that Penn State offers on campus.
Students who would like to get involved in the Penn State and World Campus communities can participate in both virtual and in-person activities across the University. When they graduate, they can attend commencement with their peers.
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