Milwaukee School of Engineering earned the 15th spot on U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 list of Best Universities in the Midwest. MSOE was ranked 12th in the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs category among engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s. In addition, MSOE was recognized for having one of the Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs.

U.S. News for the first time published rankings of the Most Innovative Schools in terms of technology, facilities, academics and curriculum. MSOE was named the 5th Most Innovative University in the Midwest. The university also was ranked 15th Best College for Veterans in the Midwest.

About the rankings:

The 2016 rankings by U.S. News provide an examination of how nearly 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

U.S. News bases its undergraduate engineering programs rankings on the judgments of deans and senior faculty at peer institutions, who are surveyed each spring and asked to rate each program they are familiar with on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (distinguished).

MSOE is ranked highly by a number of organization, and while this is gratifying, it is important to note that rankings should not be overemphasized by students or their families during the college selection process. Choosing a college is an individual decision that should be made by students and families based on the student’s individual needs. Students come to MSOE because of its focus on laboratory experience and career practice, expert faculty dedicated to student learning, its small college feeling within a vibrant downtown neighborhood, extremely high placement rates for graduates and the success of its alumni.