2026 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in electrical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is California State University Fullerton, our #1 best value for electrical engineering in California. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,054 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $63,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $14,676. Electrical Engineering graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $83,169 early in their careers. Set against $14,676 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Northridge one of the best values for electrical engineering. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,440 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $75,207. That is a strong return on a $17,440 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Long Beach earned it the #4 place for electrical engineering. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $77,278. That is a strong return on a $19,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
California State University Sacramento came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $19,430. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $74,450. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno landed the #6 spot for electrical engineering value this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,875 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $59,672 early in their careers. Set against $25,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of California San Diego placed #7 among the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,342 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $95,848 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $159,472. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
California State University San Marcos placed #9 among the best values for electrical engineering. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,082, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,527 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $48,726. That is a strong return on a $17,527 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #10 for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,812 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $80,827. That is a strong return on a $18,812 median debt. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
California State University Bakersfield placed #11 among the best values for electrical engineering. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,087, compared with $20,687 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,009 ten years after entry. California State University Bakersfield admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine landed the #12 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $80,412 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
San Jose State University came in at #13 for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $19,954. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $66,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $67,345 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #16 for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,571 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. That is a strong return on a $15,571 median debt. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #17 among the best values for electrical engineering. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $17,877. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $102,380. That is a strong return on a $17,877 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Sonoma State University came in at #18 for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,624 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,224. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,031 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $78,247. That is a strong return on a $18,031 median debt. Sonoma State University admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley placed #19 among the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $14,437. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $167,298. That is a strong return on a $14,437 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
California State University Chico ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,472 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,072. Students borrow a median of $18,591 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $45,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of California Davis earned the #21 position for value in electrical engineering this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $14,404. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #22 for value in electrical engineering this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Students borrow a median of $24,449 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $90,576. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
San Diego State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $18,165. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $75,061. Set against $18,165 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #24 for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Students borrow a median of $17,048 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $78,842 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,048 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
California Institute Of Technology placed #25 among the best values for electrical engineering. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $65,898 in tuition and fees. Electrical Engineering graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 3%.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s electrical engineering value ranking:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Electrical Engineering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/electrical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong electrical engineering education at a price that pays off.
