- January 27, 2026
- By Heather G. Markle And Tony Richards
Online graduate degree programs in the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering and Robert H. Smith School of Business earned recognition from U.S. News & World Report in its 2026 Best Online Programs rankings released on Tuesday.
The Smith School’s MBA in Marketing program placed No. 6 in the nation and its online MBA rose to No. 25 nationally and tied for No. 11 among public universities while the Clark School’s online Master of Engineering program is ranked No. 11 nationally and No. 8 among public universities. Rankings are based on factors including student engagement, faculty credentials, peer reputation, and the quality of student services and technology.
With these new rankings from U.S. News, UMD now counts eight top-25 online engineering and business graduate programs, and 68 top-25 programs across campus.
"We believe people who want to pursue advanced studies in engineering should have that opportunity. Creating a strong workforce of engineering talent is critical for our society and our online programs play a pivotal role in developing it,” said Clark School Dean Samuel Graham. “Maryland Engineering’s online programs empower students to pursue a leading advanced degree in a way that fits into their lifestyle. Our faculty and staff are helping those students gain skills to excel in the workforce, and we are proud to see them recognized.”
Administered through Maryland Applied Graduate Engineering (MAGE), the online Master of Engineering curriculum mirrors the high standards of UMD’s on-campus offerings, ensuring that remote learners receive the same world-class education as their peers in College Park.
The online Master of Engineering degrees offered address critical, high-demand fields, including aerospace engineering, bioengineering, cloud engineering, cybersecurity, embedded systems, energy systems engineering, engineering artificial intelligence, fire protection engineering, project management, reliability engineering, robotics, software engineering and systems engineering.
The university also ranks No. 16 among Best Online Master's in Engineering Programs for Veterans and No. 22 among Best MBA Programs for Veterans.
The Smith School also earned a No. 15 ranking for MBA in general management, and No. 25 in the "Grad Business" category, which includes a combination of non-MBA master's degrees such as business analytics, accounting and supply chain management. Courses in these programs are taught by world-class faculty who provide the foundation for a successful business career.
“The Smith School is advancing excellence in our online programs to meet the demands of a world reshaped by AI-driven technologies, financial and geopolitical disruption, and global supply chain realignment,” said Smith School Dean Prabhudev Konana. “Our curriculum focuses on leadership that creates value through ethical decision-making, risk, and resilience management. Through immersive experiential learning and strong industry partnerships, we prepare leaders to navigate complexity, manage volatility and build sustainable value in a rewired global economy.”