The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC) is now ranked 81st in the latest yearly rankings by the U.S. News & World Report of Best Engineering Schools. The college moved up 12 spots, compared to the 2024 rankings. 

Over the past two years, the MCEC has had the largest improvement in rankings of all engineering programs ranked in the top 100 nationally. The college is also now ranked 49th among public universities. 

According to MCEC Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri, through the significant naming gift by Alex and Kristin Molinaroli, and additional support of University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis and the Board of Trustees, the college will continue to build on the momentum and serve the state by providing access to a superb and affordable education for students, as well as being a resource for attracting companies and high-paying engineering and computing opportunities.  

“I am very pleased with, but not at all surprised by, the national-leading rankings improvements of the past two years. We have the most productive faculty in our state as measured by research expenditures and impact of publications,” Haj-Hariri says. “Over the past nine years, we have recruited 60 new tenure-track faculty across ranks and are searching for 10 more. We build on strength, guided by our vision of ‘Focused Excellence; Elevated Performance.’” 

Nuclear engineering is the highest ranked program, which moved up two spots to 21st nationally and 19th among public universities. 

With seven departments and more than 40 academic programs, the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing is educating the next generation of innovators ‘Further. Faster. Together.’ Esteemed faculty are leading research that pushes the boundaries of their fields and supports the top industries in South Carolina and beyond.