UCLA’s Online Engineering Master’s Program Secures Top Ranking Again

The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has once again earned the prestigious title of having the No. 1 online master’s degree program in engineering, according to the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the program has achieved this distinction and the eighth time in twelve years it has held the top position.

The Master of Science in Engineering Online (MSOL) program has excelled in the 2026 U.S. News “Best Online Programs” rankings due to high levels of student engagement and innovative teaching methods. Since the rankings were first published in 2014, UCLA Samueli has consistently appeared in the top two.

Students enrolled in the MSOL program benefit from instruction by the same faculty who teach on-campus master’s courses. Lectures are livestreamed and recorded, conducted in both traditional classrooms and specialized studios. Professors and teaching assistants make themselves available for office hours via Zoom during evenings and weekends. This flexible structure allows mid-career professionals to complete their degree in approximately two years while continuing to work full time.

Since its inception in 2007, the MSOL program has graduated over 1,800 students, including nearly 200 graduates in the past academic year alone. The current academic year has seen a significant increase in enrollment, with more than 600 students registered in fall 2025, marking the program’s largest cohort to date.

Ah-Hyung “Alissa” Park, the Ronald and Valerie Sugar Dean of UCLA Samueli, expressed pride in the program’s recognition. “The acknowledgment reflects the excellent teaching of our dedicated faculty and the commitment of our extraordinary students,” Park stated. “We take great pride in offering a comprehensive engineering program that meets both industry and student demand, with a rigorous and technically relevant curriculum that best serves working professionals.”

The MSOL program features 17 specialized areas of study, including data science engineering, electrical engineering and integrated circuits, mechanical and aerospace engineering, materials science, and engineering management. Additionally, students can earn certificates in three specializations and have the option to take up to four courses on campus through a hybrid model.

Song Li, the faculty director of MSOL and associate dean for graduate and professional education at UCLA Samueli, emphasized the program’s commitment to continuous improvement. “We are constantly looking for ways to improve our program so we can continue to provide the best possible education,” Li explained. “Working with feedback from students, alumni, and industry partners, our faculty regularly refine our curriculum to ensure it’s up to date and relevant.”

The 2026 U.S. News survey evaluated 111 schools offering online engineering master’s programs, using specific metrics tailored to online education. The rankings were determined based on five categories: engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer assessments by senior academic officials at engineering schools (each accounting for 25% of the total score), and services and technologies and student excellence (each contributing 12.5%).

Only degree-granting programs primarily offered online by regionally accredited institutions were included in the rankings, underscoring the significance of UCLA Samueli’s achievement.