Skip to main content

UCF A Leader in Engineering, Computer Science Graduate Programs in National Rankings

All nine eligible programs in the College of Engineering and Computer Science ranked in the top 50 for public institutions, and top 75 overall.
By: Kimberly J. Lewis | March 29, 2022

UCF is one of the best universities in the nation for students looking to continue their education and advance their careers in a wide range of professional areas, including computer science and multiple engineering fields.

Take it from U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Graduate Schools Rankings, which are based on in-depth reputational and statistical surveys from more than 800 institutions.

In the annual rankings, announced today, UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science ranked No. 43 across public institutions and No. 73 overall. UCF placed ahead of several other Florida institutions, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, the University of Miami and the University of South Florida.

All nine eligible programs in the College of Engineering and Computer Science were ranked among the top 50 for public institutions, and in the top 75 among both public and private institutions, with several programs gaining spots from last year.

UCF’s Computer Science program saw the college’s biggest national leap, rising thirteen spaces to No. 69 overall. And in one year, Materials Science and Engineering gained ten spots to rank No. 49 overall.

A full list of UCF engineering and computer science rankings follows:

The high quality of computer science research at UCF is increasingly gaining international reputation and recognition, according to Yan Solihin, Ph.D., interim chair of UCF’s Department of Computer Science. UCF’s strengths include computer vision, virtual/mixed reality, computer architecture, computational biology, human-computer interaction, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. UCF’s Center for Research in Computer Vision offers a master’s degree in Computer Vision, one of only two in the nation. UCF’s competition teams in programming and cybersecurity achieve top placements on the national and world stage. Solihin leads UCF’s Faculty Cluster in Cybersecurity and Privacy, a center that drives research and graduate student opportunities in a field that is critical to national and economic security.

Materials science and engineering is a burgeoning field that spans all sectors of industry, including aerospace, energy and medicine. Its graduate program has leaped ahead in rankings because of internationally prominent faculty, impressive research awards and successful alumni, according to Sudipta Seal, Ph.D., chair, UCF Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

“It feels like we just broke the sound barrier,” Seal says. “Getting into the nation’s top 50 is a big deal. MSE’s faculty, students and staff have worked hard work bringing our young department into this national spotlight, and I congratulate them for this recognition.”

Significant University Rankings

Numerous UCF programs achieved top rankings, including the Master of Emergency and Crisis Management program, which placed No. 3 in the nation. The program has ranked among the top 10 in the country for the fifth consecutive year. UCF also ranks No. 12 for Atomic/ Molecular / Optical Physics.

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report recognized UCF as one of the top 10 universities in the nation for Online Bachelor’s Programs. Last fall, the publication named UCF a national leader in innovation and social mobility. Taken as a whole, the rankings show UCF is the place to be for those looking to take their professional careers to the next level.

See the Mar. 29, 2022 UCF Today story by Anthony M. Moore for more university-wide national rankings.