Highest Ranked Engineering Program at UNC Charlotte

In the recently released 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School rankings, our Civil Engineering graduate program has leaped to #75 in the nation.

This impressive 16-spot rise from last year is a testament to the high-impact research, innovative spirit, and dedication of our faculty and graduate students. From sustainable infrastructure to advanced transportation systems to microplastics in the environment to virus detection in wastewater, the research taking place in our labs is gaining the national recognition it deserves.

This achievement carries extra weight within our own campus: Civil Engineering is now the highest-ranked graduate engineering program at UNC Charlotte. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in civil and environmental engineering, proving that Charlotte is a premier destination for the next generation of engineering leaders.