Why Choose KU School of Engineering?

There's a reason why KU is at the center of Google Earth. One of our alumni put it there.

KU alumnus Brian McClendon, Google Earth's director of engineering, decided Lawrence, Kan., was a great beginning point so he made it the opening destination of the popular Internet diversion.

He's not the only one who thinks there's something special about this place.

The University of Kansas School of Engineering is routinely ranked among the top third of engineering programs in the nation. Moreover, KU provides the kind of atmosphere where students succeed and find opportunities to test their skills and talents before they graduate.

Accreditation:
All engineering undergraduate degree programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. The computer science undergraduate degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Affordability:
The KU School of Engineering and its departments award more than $1 million a year in scholarships to outstanding students. Those funds go to more than 500 undergraduate engineering students every year. The prevalence of scholarships and financial aid opportunities at the University of Kansas make KU's high-quality programs affordable for almost everyone.

Teaching:
Faculty - not graduate teaching assistants - teach 95 percent of our undergraduate classes. Engineering faculty members are recognized for their outstanding teaching skills, and they bring their own cutting-edge research into the classrooms. They also lead prestigious national engineering research centers headquartered at the University of Kansas. KU is the only university in Kansas with members in the National Academy of Engineering.

Labs & Computing Facilities:
Engineering and computer science students pay an engineering fee per credit hour. These fees are channeled directly into services, facilities, materials and equipment that engineering and computer science students use every day. KU Engineering students have top facilities and tools to use 24/7 - 365.

Students

Our students can cite dozens of reasons why KU was a great choice for them. We know, because we asked them. Here are the top five reasons students give when asked why they chose the KU School of Engineering to earn their degree:

The High Five

Strong program in their major
Quality of engineering and computer science facilities
Academic reputation of KU
Academic reputation of KU School of Engineering
Affordability

Want to know more? Spend some time with our KU Engineering Ambassadors, watch videos of our activities and projects, or watch the our graduating seniors movie: 4 Years in 5 minutes: KU Commencement 2011.

Career Services:
The Engineering Career Center can help students develop the skills they need to find a summer internship while in college, or a rewarding job after graduation. Despite stories that outsourcing threatens the job market, reality shows that demand for KU's engineering and computer science graduates has never been greater. The Career Center guides students to make the most of this opportunity.

Involvement:
From Engineering Student Council to the Society of Women Engineers to groups that build concrete canoes, formula cars and rockets, there are plenty of ways for you to get involved in engineering at KU.

Research:
The School of Engineering shares close ties with five major research centers at KU:

Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis (KU is lead institution)
NSF Science and Technology Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (KU is lead institution)
Bioengineering Research Center
Information and Telecommunication Technology Center
Transportation Research Institute.

These research centers provide students with many meaningful employment opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The experience these student employees gain gives them a competitive edge in the job market.

Students also are eligible to win undergraduate research grants that will let them conduct their own research with the guidance of a KU faculty members.