Best Engineering Colleges in California (2026)
Updated
This page ranks 36 schools in California by the median earnings of Engineering graduates four years after completing. University of California-Berkeley leads the list with median earnings of $158,239.
Across the 32 schools with a published figure, earnings range from $158,239 to $69,434, with a median of $99,344.
Public institutions account for 27 of the 36 listed schools, alongside 9 private nonprofits. California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price on the page at $3,967.
University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Engineering Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $158,239 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley reports $158,239 in median earnings for its Engineering graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (528 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (189 graduates), Civil Engineering (106 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($200,543), Chemical Engineering ($121,027), Mechanical Engineering ($119,371) | |||||
| 2 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | No published median | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
| A private nonprofit university in Santa Clara, Santa Clara University ranks 2nd on this page and shows an average net price of $50,062. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Engineering (83 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (52 graduates), Biomedical/Medical Engineering (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($163,765), Mechanical Engineering ($122,111), Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($114,426) | |||||
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $128,783 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| With a 9% admission rate, University of California-Los Angeles admits a small share of applicants and its Engineering graduates earn a median of $128,783 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (162 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (142 graduates), Computer Engineering (96 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($126,209), Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($116,525), Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering ($115,706) | |||||
| 4 | Cal Poly Maritime Academy · Vallejo, CA | $126,395 | $20,555 | $13,552 | 95.0% |
| Cal Poly Maritime Academy posts a six-year completion rate of 60% alongside median earnings of $126,395 for its Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (42 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mechanical Engineering ($126,395) | |||||
| 5 | Harvey Mudd College · Claremont, CA | $122,845 | $35,924 | $27,979 | 12.7% |
| Harvey Mudd College reports an average net price of $27,979 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 225th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering, General (51 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering, General ($122,845) | |||||
| 6 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $121,686 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
| University of California-Santa Cruz graduates 75% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $121,686 for its Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Engineering (132 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (40 graduates), Biomedical/Medical Engineering (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($124,641), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($118,290), Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($98,567) | |||||
| 7 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $120,049 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
| Ranking 66th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of California-Santa Barbara shows an average net price of $16,109. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (78 graduates), Computer Engineering (72 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (68 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($144,703), Chemical Engineering ($113,317), Mechanical Engineering ($104,336) | |||||
| 8 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $115,921 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| University of Southern California admits 10% of applicants and its Engineering graduates earn a median of $115,921 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (119 graduates), Industrial Engineering (57 graduates), Biomedical/Medical Engineering (56 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($131,532), Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering ($125,514), Industrial Engineering ($112,150) | |||||
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $113,948 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reports an average net price of $7,529 for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 86%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (272 graduates), Computer Engineering (158 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (136 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($148,950), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($125,240), Industrial Engineering ($112,797) | |||||
| 10 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $112,757 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
| With an admission rate of 93%, Sonoma State University ranks 10th on this list and its Engineering graduates earn a median of $112,757 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (25 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $110,699 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| University of California-San Diego holds the top Azimuth composite rank on this page, 1st among nonprofit four-year institutions, and reports median earnings of $110,699 for its Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (218 graduates), Computer Engineering (167 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (146 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($149,139), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($118,150), Mechanical Engineering ($104,229) | |||||
| 12 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $106,933 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
| Graduating 86% of its students within six years, University of California-Davis shows an average net price of $14,741. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (166 graduates), Civil Engineering (127 graduates), Computer Engineering (119 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($145,422), Engineering, General ($114,228), Chemical Engineering ($102,649) | |||||
| 13 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $106,892 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| University of California-Irvine reports median earnings of $106,892 for its Engineering graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate reaches 87%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (260 graduates), Computer Engineering (246 graduates), Biomedical/Medical Engineering (156 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($132,357), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($106,871), Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering ($100,537) | |||||
| 14 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $100,916 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| With an average net price of $15,364, San Diego State University posts median earnings of $100,916 four years after completing an Engineering degree. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (244 graduates), Civil Engineering (227 graduates), Computer Engineering (116 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($106,416), Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering ($100,139), Mechanical Engineering ($97,825) | |||||
| 15 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $100,321 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona admits 75% of applicants and its Engineering graduates earn a median of $100,321 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Civil Engineering (277 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (276 graduates), Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering (163 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering ($106,171), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($103,924), Chemical Engineering ($102,849) | |||||
| 16 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $99,979 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| Ranking 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, California State University-Northridge carries an average net price of $7,021. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (185 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (78 graduates), Civil Engineering (75 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($104,065), Mechanical Engineering ($99,216), Civil Engineering ($97,123) | |||||
| 17 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $99,540 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
| A private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University shows a six-year completion rate of 79% alongside median earnings of $99,540 for its Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (30 graduates), Civil Engineering (27 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (12 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mechanical Engineering ($96,226) | |||||
| 18 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | No published median | $13,807 | -$2,536* | 3.6% |
| Stanford University admits 4% of applicants and graduates 92% of its students within six years, while its average net price is $13,807. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering, Other (91 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (49 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (43 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering, Other ($115,206) | |||||
| 19 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $99,148 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
| San Francisco State University reports median earnings of $99,148 for its Engineering graduates four years after completing, and its admission rate is 96%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (75 graduates), Civil Engineering (65 graduates), Computer Engineering (38 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($112,454), Mechanical Engineering ($102,104), Computer Engineering ($94,129) | |||||
| 20 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $99,077 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
| California Baptist University posts a six-year completion rate of 62% and an average net price of $22,298 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (47 graduates), Civil Engineering (28 graduates), Computer Engineering (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mechanical Engineering ($105,046), Computer Engineering ($96,506), Civil Engineering ($90,251) | |||||
| 21 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $97,539 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
| University of California-Merced shows median earnings of $97,539 four years after completing an Engineering degree, and its six-year completion rate is 69%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Engineering (219 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (184 graduates), Biomedical/Medical Engineering (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($102,575), Mechanical Engineering ($95,040), Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($88,795) | |||||
| 22 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $97,264 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
| California State University-Long Beach ranks 5th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $10,440. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (229 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (125 graduates), Civil Engineering (122 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($103,075), Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering ($101,797), Computer Engineering ($98,967) | |||||
| 23 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $97,128 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
| With an admission rate of 94%, California State University-Sacramento reports median earnings of $97,128 for its Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (178 graduates), Civil Engineering (145 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (94 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($104,394), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($103,512), Civil Engineering ($93,973) | |||||
| 24 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $95,412 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
| University of California-Riverside graduates 76% of its students within six years and its Engineering graduates earn a median of $95,412 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (94 graduates), Biomedical/Medical Engineering (67 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (65 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($107,193), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($102,630), Mechanical Engineering ($93,721) | |||||
| 25 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $94,917 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| California State University-Chico reports median earnings of $94,917 for its Engineering graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $14,480. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Civil Engineering (88 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (72 graduates), Engineering, Other (34 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering, Other ($103,272), Mechanical Engineering ($93,555), Civil Engineering ($92,472) | |||||
| 26 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $94,133 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
| With an average net price of $3,967, California State University-Los Angeles ranks 3rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (130 graduates), Civil Engineering (73 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (52 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($96,014), Civil Engineering ($94,760), Mechanical Engineering ($93,028) | |||||
| 27 | California State University-East Bay · Hayward, CA | $93,793 | $9,320 | $6,360 | 97.4% |
| California State University-East Bay admits 97% of applicants and reports a six-year completion rate of 48%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Engineering (16 graduates), Industrial Engineering (14 graduates) | |||||
| 28 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $93,159 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
| A six-year completion rate of 70% coincides with median earnings of $93,159 for Engineering graduates at California State University-Fullerton four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (125 graduates), Civil Engineering (124 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (65 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Civil Engineering ($95,854), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($92,618), Mechanical Engineering ($86,808) | |||||
| 29 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $92,962 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
| An average net price of $5,105 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median earnings of $92,962 at California State University-Fresno. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (79 graduates), Civil Engineering (70 graduates), Computer Engineering (30 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($108,038), Computer Engineering ($103,896), Mechanical Engineering ($88,002) | |||||
| 30 | California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, CA | $92,905 | $5,652 | $3,536 | 93.9% |
| California State University-Bakersfield ranks 89th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $5,652. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Science (42 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (30 graduates), Computer Engineering (15 graduates) | |||||
| 31 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $92,492 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
| Graduates of California State University-San Bernardino earn a median of $92,492 four years after completing, and the school admits 94% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Engineering (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($92,492) | |||||
| 32 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | No published median | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
| A private nonprofit university in San Diego, University of San Diego reports a six-year completion rate of 84% and an admission rate of 52%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (61 graduates), Industrial Engineering (38 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (23 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($110,314), Mechanical Engineering ($91,848) | |||||
| 33 | California Institute of Technology · Pasadena, CA | $83,177 | $16,075 | -$2,133* | 2.6% |
| California Institute of Technology admits 3% of applicants and reports median earnings of $83,177 for its Engineering graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (28 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (15 graduates), Biomedical/Medical Engineering (10 graduates) | |||||
| 34 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $78,225 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
| With an admission rate of 98%, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt reports a six-year completion rate of 49% and an average net price of $13,171. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (51 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($78,225) | |||||
| 35 | University of the Pacific · Stockton, CA | No published median | $25,447 | $17,004 | 71.3% |
| University of the Pacific ranks 201st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $17,004 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Biomedical/Medical Engineering (17 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (17 graduates), Computer Engineering (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mechanical Engineering ($99,573) | |||||
| 36 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $69,434 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
| San Jose State University reports median earnings of $69,434 for its Engineering graduates two years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 69%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Engineering (248 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (166 graduates), Civil Engineering (101 graduates) | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Engineering graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Engineering earnings cohort in California appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing the program. For 2 of the 36 listed schools the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 32 schools with a published figure. The spread from top to bottom is $88,805, with University of California-Berkeley at $158,239 and Santa Clara University in second.
Job market context in California
Engineering graduates in California enter occupations such as Civil Engineers, Industrial Engineers, and Mechanical Engineers. The median annual wage across those occupations is $150,203, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $117,119. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 12.5% higher, with about 301 openings a year for every hundred graduates, more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing; the market figures describe the broader occupations, and the two are not the same measure.