College Secures Top Spots in Civil and Computer Engineering; Celebrates $60 Million Gift Establishing Noyce School of Applied Computing and Upcoming ASCE Championships
The Cal Poly College of Engineering continues to be recognized as one of the nation’s premier engineering institutions, earning high rankings in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges guidebook. Ranked No. 8 for best undergraduate engineering programs at master’s-level institutions, the college maintains its reputation for excellence and innovation through its hands-on, Learn by Doing approach.
In specialty program rankings, Cal Poly achieved outstanding success:
- No. 1 in civil engineering (up from No. 2 last year)
- No. 1 in computer engineering
- No. 2 in electrical engineering
- No. 2 in mechanical engineering
“These rankings reflect the dedication and hard work of our students, faculty and staff,” said Amy S. Fleischer, dean of the College of Engineering. “Our community is committed to tackling real-world challenges and advancing the field of engineering.”
A milestone contributing to this success is the establishment of the Noyce School of Applied Computing. Funded by a transformative $60 million gift from the Robert N. Noyce Trust, Cal Poly is now home to the first interdisciplinary school of its kind.
The Noyce School combines three departments — Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Software Engineering, and Computer Engineering — with Statistics joining as an affiliate. This integration fosters collaboration across disciplines, enabling students and faculty to address complex problems using advanced computing principles and technologies.
In addition to academic achievements, Cal Poly is gearing up to host the 2025 ASCE Civil Engineering Student Championships. The event in June will welcome over 500 national and international civil engineering students and faculty for a weekend of competition, networking and collaboration.
“Our upcoming role as host for the ASCE championships underscores our leadership in civil engineering education,” Fleischer added. “We are excited to showcase our campus and provide a platform for students to demonstrate their skills and creativity.”
The College of Engineering continues to advance its commitment to diversity and inclusion, launching new initiatives over the past year to increase the representation of women and underrepresented groups in engineering. Those efforts have been recognized nationally, highlighting the college’s dedication to fostering an environment where all students can thrive.
Engineering students at Cal Poly have achieved remarkable success in recent competitions and projects. Teams have excelled in areas such as sustainable engineering challenges, cybersecurity competitions and emerging technology projects. Notably, students developed cutting-edge solutions in renewable energy and environmental sustainability, reflecting the college’s emphasis on addressing real-world problems through hands-on learning.
Faculty members are leading impactful research in critical fields like climate resilience, advanced manufacturing and autonomous systems. Their work not only contributes to academic advancement but also offers practical solutions to global challenges, reinforcing Cal Poly’s role as a leader in engineering innovation.
With over 6,000 students and more than 80 state-of-the-art laboratories, the College of Engineering provides a collaborative environment for interdisciplinary learning and discovery. Graduates continue to be highly sought after by industry leaders such as Amazon, Apple Inc., Boeing, Microsoft Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp. and Tesla Inc., as well as various state and federal agencies.
“Our students and faculty are at the forefront of engineering excellence,” Fleischer said. “Their achievements over the past year exemplify the spirit of ingenuity and dedication that defines Cal Poly Engineering. We remain committed to providing an education that empowers our students to make meaningful contributions to society.”
For more information about the College of Engineering and its programs, visit the Cal Poly College of Engineering.
