Online Systems Engineering program climbs in national ranking


 

Cornell has jumped to the No. 7 spot on the 2017 ranking of Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs compiled by U.S. News & World Report.

The ranking is based on the strength of the Systems Engineering M.Eng. Distance Learning program, the university’s only online engineering graduate degree, and is based on five categories: student engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer reputation, student services and technology, and admissions selectivity.

U.S. News lists the M.Eng. program’s flexibility for completion and eight-credit project experience as distinguishing characteristics. It also notes that the program offers the same degree and classes offered to on-campus students, and 100 percent of students taking the online courses are working professionals, mostly from Fortune 500 companies.

The No. 7 ranking is a one-spot bump from last year’s No. 8 ranking. Cornell first entered the top 10 in 2015 after launching the online engineering program five years prior.

“We continue to invest heavily in our distance learning program, finding creative ways to engage our students, improve their learning experience in the program and ensure their success beyond,” said H. Oliver Gao, director of systems engineering, adding that the program’s success has been a team effort. “Our recent strides in adding design thinking and systems architecture to the curriculum have made the program even more relevant and attractive to working professionals.”

Syl Kacapyr