The School of Engineering is noted for its historically prominent contributions to continuum and applied mechanics, originally led by European émigré researchers in the 20th century.

[11] Between 2014 and 2017, the school undertook a major expansion of its facilities, designing and constructing a new Engineering Research Center.

[15] Graduates of the School of Engineering have become prominent scientists, astronauts, athletes, government officials, pioneers, entrepreneurs, CEOs, financiers, and scholars.

'64 Ph.D. '66, CEO of Motorola; Theresia Gouw '90,[20] Forbes Midas List investor; and Mary Lou Jepsen '87 Ph.D. '97.

Other graduates in academia include Tejal A. Desai '94, Dean of Engineering at Brown University; Kaliat Ramesh '85 Ph.D. '88, Alonzo G. Decker Jr.

The school's alumni in aeronautics and space research and travel include Thomas O. Paine '42, third administrator of NASA (1969–1970); Byron K. Lichtenberg '69 fighter pilot and payload specialist; and Brian Binnie '75 Sc.M.

Notable athletes to have graduated from the school include racecar driver Mark Donohue '59; football players Steve Jordan '82 and James Develin '10; and olympic rowers Dick Dreissigacker '69, Jamie Koven '95, Igor Boraska '95, and Nikola Stojić '97.