The University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science graduate program was ranked third in the country by the Princeton Review in its first-ever list of the Top 20 Graduate Engineering Programs, released September 22, 2006.

The U.Va. Engineering graduate program was recognized for its strong GRE scores, undergraduate GPA (3.5 average), percentage of applicants accepted and percentage of top undergraduates applying over the past two academic years.

“For the University of Virginia Engineering School’s graduate program to be ranked third nationally — and by such a well-respected organization — is extremely exciting,” says U.Va. Engineering Dean James H. Aylor. “We feel that this ranking is a confirmation that we continue to move forward in reaching our programmatic and institutional goals.”

Aylor attributes the graduate program’s success to its renowned faculty and research. Ten U.Va. Engineering faculty are members of the National Academy of Engineering, and three others were recently recognized as being among the 250 most Highly Cited Authors in their fields worldwide. In addition, while the national average for research grants funded is 25 percent, U.Va. Engineering faculty research proposals are funded at a rate of 58 percent, earning them a prominent position among faculty nationally.

Kathryn C. Thornton, associate dean for graduate programs at the U.Va. School of Engineering and Applied Science, says, “The U.Va. Engineering graduate program prepares leaders with the engineering knowledge; the analytical skills; and a broad, global perspective to address the challenges the world confronts. Our engineering graduate students contribute significantly to the research productivity of the University and gain considerable experience in pedagogy and instructional methods.” Thornton adds, “The Princeton Review’s ranking reinforces our program’s commitment to quality in an increasingly competitive academic environment.”

Also among the top graduate engineering programs were those at the University of California at Santa Barbara (1st), Duke University (2nd), Michigan State University (4th) and The Johns Hopkins University (5th). (For a complete list of the Top 20, visit www.princetonreview.com/grad/research/articles/find/engineering.asp.)

“We designed these rankings as a substantive resource for students who apply to graduate programs of engineering each year and for all who advise and support them — from college and career counselors to educators and parents,” said Robert Franek, vice president and senior editor of Princeton Review books. “Each school on our list of top programs of Graduate Engineering should be recognized for the quality education they provide for those planning a career in this field.”