USNWR engineering rankings are based solely on subjective peer assessment surveys. It’s hard to know for sure what the “peers” are considering.
Higher ranked colleges tend to be more selective in admissions than much lower ranked colleges. Attracting more talented and motivated students may affect the quality of classroom discussions, extracurricular activities, team projects, intercollegiate science/engineering competitions, etc. It may create a “honey pot” that attracts good professors or corporate recruiters. It may also mean that instructors can teach at a faster pace. However, these effects may or may not be strongly evident in specific programs at the schools on your list.
You might want to visit schools on your list, or contact departments that interest you, to investigate what kinds of companies recruit (or offer internships) at each one.