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# Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in California (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Engineering Colleges in California](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-california/)

This page ranks the 29 Mechanical Engineering programs in California by the median earnings of Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. [Cal Poly Maritime Academy](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $126,395 four years after completing, followed by [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) at $122,111 and [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) at $119,371.

Across the listed schools, the figure ranges from $126,395 to $63,600, with a median of $99,148.

Public institutions account for 21 of the 29 programs, while 8 are private nonprofits. California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price on the list at $3,967.

University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

29 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Cal Poly Maritime Academy · Vallejo, CA | $126,395 | $20,555 | $13,552 | 95.0% |
|  | [Cal Poly Maritime Academy](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/majors/) reports [median earnings of $126,395](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. |
| 2 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $122,111 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Santa Clara, [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) [admits 48% of applicants](/school/santa-clara-university/admissions/) and posts median earnings of $122,111 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $119,371 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) carries an [average net price of $13,481](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/cost/) and its Mechanical Engineering graduates earn a median of $119,371 four years after completing. |
| 4 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | $117,072 | $13,807 | \-$2,536\* | 3.6% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left [Stanford University](/school/stanford-university/majors/) with a [median of $12,000](/school/stanford-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, while its Mechanical Engineering graduates earn a median of $117,072 four years after completing. |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $108,875 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) ranks 5th on this list, with a [median of $108,875](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 9%. |
| 6 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $106,750 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | With 272 graduates in the earnings cohort, [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) reports [median earnings of $106,750](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $105,046 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $105,046](/school/california-baptist-university/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $26,285. |
| 8 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $104,649 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) [admits 10% of applicants](/school/university-of-southern-california/admissions/) and its Mechanical Engineering graduates earn a median of $104,649 four years after completing. |
| 9 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $104,336 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
|  | An [average net price of $9,231](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median earnings of $104,336 for [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/) Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 10 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $104,229 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | Ranking 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) reports [median earnings of $104,229](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 11 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $102,161 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) reports [median earnings of $102,161](/school/university-of-california-davis/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 166 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 12 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $102,104 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
|  | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) [admits 96% of applicants](/school/san-francisco-state-university/admissions/) and its Mechanical Engineering graduates earn a median of $102,104 four years after completing. |
| 13 | University of the Pacific · Stockton, CA | $99,573 | $25,447 | $17,004 | 71.3% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Stockton, [University of the Pacific](/school/university-of-the-pacific/majors/) reports [$99,573 in median earnings](/school/university-of-the-pacific/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $25,447. |
| 14 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $99,216 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-northridge/admissions/) and ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 15 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $99,148 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | With 276 graduates in the earnings cohort, [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) posts [median earnings of $99,148](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 16 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $99,111 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) shows a [median federal debt of $14,750](/school/university-of-california-irvine/cost/) among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $99,111. |
| 17 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $97,825 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) ranks 17th on this list, with [median earnings of $97,825](/school/san-diego-state-university/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 18 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $96,226 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) has an [average net price of $48,381](/school/loyola-marymount-university/cost/) and an admission rate of 45%. |
| 19 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $95,957 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) [ranks 5th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earn a median of $95,957. |
| 20 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $95,040 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 91%](/school/university-of-california-merced/admissions/), [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/) reports median earnings of $95,040 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 21 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $93,878 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) shows a [median federal debt of $16,532](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/cost/) among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed, alongside an average net price of $9,338. |
| 22 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $93,721 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
|  | [University of California-Riverside](/school/university-of-california-riverside/majors/) ranks 22nd on this list, and its 94 graduates in the earnings cohort earned a [median of $93,721](/school/university-of-california-riverside/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
| 23 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $93,555 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
|  | [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-chico/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $93,555 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 24 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $93,028 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
|  | Ranking 24th on this list, [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/majors/) posts the lowest average net price on the page at $3,967, and its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earn a [median of $93,028](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/outcomes/). |
| 25 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $91,848 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
|  | [University of San Diego](/school/university-of-san-diego/majors/), a private nonprofit university in San Diego, reports [median earnings of $91,848](/school/university-of-san-diego/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 26 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $88,002 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/) ranks 26th on this list and shows an [average net price of $7,000](/school/california-state-university-fresno/cost/). |
| 27 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $86,808 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 91%](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/admissions/), [California State University-Fullerton](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/) posts median earnings of $86,808 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 28 | California Institute of Technology · Pasadena, CA | $83,177 | $16,075 | \-$2,133\* | 2.6% |
|  | [California Institute of Technology](/school/california-institute-of-technology/majors/) [admits 3% of applicants](/school/california-institute-of-technology/admissions/) and its Mechanical Engineering graduates earn a median of $83,177 four years after completing. |
| 29 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $63,600 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
|  | [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $63,600](/school/san-jose-state-university/outcomes/) for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $13,760. |

\* 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

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 2 of the 29 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 it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 29 schools with a published figure. Cal Poly Maritime Academy leads Santa Clara University by a gap of $4,284, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $62,795.

## Related rankings

-   [Mechanical Engineering Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-mechanical-engineering-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in Texas](/rankings/best-mechanical-engineering-programs-in-texas/)
-   [Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in Ohio](/rankings/best-mechanical-engineering-programs-in-ohio/)
-   [Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in Florida](/rankings/best-mechanical-engineering-programs-in-florida/)
-   [Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in Pennsylvania](/rankings/best-mechanical-engineering-programs-in-pennsylvania/)
-   [Best Engineering Colleges in California](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-california/)
-   Engineering Colleges in California for Social Mobility