2026 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the electrical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
California State University Fullerton earned the #1 spot for value among electrical engineering schools in the Far Western Region. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,054 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $63,468 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes California State University Los Angeles one of the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $14,676. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $83,169. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Northridge earned it the #3 place for electrical engineering. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $17,440. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $75,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #4 makes California State University Fresno one of the best values for electrical engineering. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,875 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $59,672. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Long Beach earned it the #5 place for electrical engineering. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $77,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Tacoma Community College came in at #6 for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,507 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,646. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $14,822. Electrical Engineering graduates of Tacoma Community College earn a median of $41,732 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Bakersfield ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Students from in state pay about $8,087 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,687 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $59,009 ten years out. California State University Bakersfield admits about 94% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,430 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $74,450 early in their careers. Set against $19,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus came in at #9 for value in electrical engineering this year. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Students from in state pay about $13,168 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,404 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus generally make around $81,989. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
California State University San Marcos earned the #10 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,082, while out-of-state students pay about $20,682. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,527 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,726 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #11 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,083 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,892. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $23,439. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of Alaska Fairbanks earn a median of $50,963 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,439 median debt.
Stanford University landed the #12 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $159,472 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas earned the #13 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $77,254. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of California San Diego landed the #14 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Students borrow a median of $20,342 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $95,848. Set against $20,342 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #15 for value in electrical engineering this year. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Bothell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,919, compared with $43,155 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Bothell Campus generally make around $103,328. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. University Of Washington Bothell Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Everett Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the city of Everett, Everett Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,032 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,171 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,542 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $47,441. That is a strong return on a $13,542 median debt.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #17 for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,812 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $80,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine placed #18 among the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $80,412. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #19 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $15,000. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $103,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
San Francisco State University landed the #20 spot for electrical engineering value this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $67,345. Set against $16,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University came in at #21 for value in electrical engineering this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,593 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $99,396. That is a strong return on a $29,593 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University came in at #22 for value in electrical engineering this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside earned the #23 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $19,954. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $66,430 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #24 for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,218. Students borrow a median of $20,539 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $70,950. That is a strong return on a $20,539 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #25 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,877 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $102,380 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 47 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s electrical engineering value ranking:
Narrow Electrical Engineering Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 80 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 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/) 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.
