[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/)

# Best Engineering Technology Colleges in California (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

This page ranks the 14 schools in California that report an Engineering Technology earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Engineering Technology graduates four years after completing. [Cal Poly Maritime Academy](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, and [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) posts the highest figure at $103,125.

Across the 11 schools with a reported completion median, median earnings range from $62,489 to $103,125, with a median of $91,605. For 2 of the listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 10 of the 14 schools and private nonprofits for 4. California State University-Los Angeles carries the lowest average net price on the page at $3,967, while California State University-Los Angeles ranks 3rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.

## The ranked list

14 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Engineering Technology Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Cal Poly Maritime Academy · Vallejo, CA | $123,023 | $20,555 | $13,552 | 95.0% |
|  | [Cal Poly Maritime Academy](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/majors/) ranks 1st on this list and holds an [Azimuth composite rank of 284th](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (35 graduates), Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (15 graduates) |
| 2 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $103,125 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | Median earnings of $103,125 four years after completing place [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) 2nd on this page, with a [six-year completion rate of 69%](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/outcomes/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (53 graduates), Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($103,125) |
| 3 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $100,564 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) [admits 36% of applicants](/school/san-diego-state-university/admissions/) and posts a six-year completion rate of 76%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (39 graduates) |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $97,556 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | An [average net price of $7,851](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 accompanies [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/)'s median earnings of $97,556 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (57 graduates), Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (55 graduates), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($105,812), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($91,709) |
| 5 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $96,120 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, reports [median earnings of $96,120](/school/university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) for its Engineering Technology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering-Related Fields (24 graduates) |
| 6 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | $92,632 | $13,807 | \-$2,536\* | 3.6% |
|  | Graduating 92% of its students within six years, [Stanford University](/school/stanford-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $92,632](/school/stanford-university/outcomes/) two years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering-Related Fields (77 graduates) |
| 7 | Art Center College of Design · Pasadena, CA | $91,605 | $48,661 | $39,645 | 74.5% |
|  | Art Center College of Design carries an average net price of $48,661 alongside median earnings of $91,605 for its Engineering Technology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering-Related Fields (70 graduates), Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (34 graduates) |
| 8 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $89,804 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | Ranking 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) shows an [average net price of $7,021](/school/california-state-university-northridge/cost/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (26 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($89,804) |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $89,195 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 86%](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/outcomes/), [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) reports median earnings of $89,195 for its Engineering Technology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (52 graduates) |
| 10 | Fresno Pacific University · Fresno, CA | $88,542 | $13,630 | $11,133 | 64.1% |
|  | [Fresno Pacific University](/school/fresno-pacific-university/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 50%](/school/fresno-pacific-university/outcomes/) and an average net price of $11,133 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (5 graduates) |
| 11 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $88,116 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
|  | Ranking 91st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-chico/admissions/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (95 graduates), Engineering-Related Fields (30 graduates) |
| 12 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $86,970 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
|  | [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/majors/) reports [median earnings of $86,970](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/outcomes/) for its Engineering Technology graduates four years after completing and carries the lowest average net price on the page at $3,967. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (35 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($86,970) |
| 13 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $71,816 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 95%](/school/california-state-university-fresno/admissions/), [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/) ranks 13th on this list and reports an average net price of $5,105 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (36 graduates), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (35 graduates), Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($95,072) |
| 14 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $62,489 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
|  | [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $62,489](/school/san-jose-state-university/outcomes/) for its Engineering Technology graduates two years after completing, alongside an average net price of $13,760. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (58 graduates), Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (57 graduates), Engineering-Related Fields (13 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 Technology graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure is median earnings for federally aided Engineering Technology completers who were working and not enrolled, measured after completing. For 2 of the 14 listed programs 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 is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 11 schools with a reported completion median. The spread from Cal Poly Maritime Academy to California State University-Long Beach is $40,636.

## Job market context in California

Engineering Technology graduates in California enter occupations such as Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, and Industrial Engineers. The median annual wage across those occupations is $112,933, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $88,397. Projections for 2024 to 2034 show about 6,061 openings a year for every hundred graduates, with more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 9.8% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, which are not the same measure as the occupation-wide wages described here.

## Related rankings

-   Engineering Technology Colleges
-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Engineering Technology Colleges in Texas](/rankings/best-engineering-technology-colleges-in-texas/)
-   [Best Engineering Technology Colleges in New York](/rankings/best-engineering-technology-colleges-in-new-york/)
-   [Best Engineering Technology Colleges in Ohio](/rankings/best-engineering-technology-colleges-in-ohio/)
-   Engineering Technology Colleges in Florida
-   Engineering Technology Colleges in California for Social Mobility