<p>Our research programs? Yeah, we do rank up there with the best of them. As an overall school? Hell no, just like you said the vast majority of our programs are better than average but not the best. Engineering, I dare you, go ask admissions counselors at the top graduate engineering schools what schools they love to see students coming from. I’ve done it, but no one takes any ones word at face (screen?) value online, go do it yourself. Talk to them find out where they think the top engineers come from and the consistent replies will include UIUC with GIT, MIT and CalTech. For things like CivE they will always say UIUC up there. When I was considering grad school I spent a lot of time going to various schools trying to figure out where I would like to apply and asking these questions. Will MIT always have a better rep than us? Yeah, but don’t brush us off with “keep dreaming” b/c our engineering program is world class. And just for ****s and giggles here is all that fun ranking info (that admittedly should be taken with a grain of salt…or a shaker full but still)
You seem to be blinded by the name rather than looking at the actual program.
[Rankings</a> - Best Engineering Schools - Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/rankings]Rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/rankings)
[Best</a> Undergraduate Engineering Programs - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-engineering]Best”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-engineering)
[Top</a> Ranked Engineering Colleges/Universities, Best Colleges Engineering](<a href=“http://www.graduateshotline.com/ranks/]Top”>Best Engineering Schools - Top 50 Engineering Colleges in US)</p>