2026 Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in California
Engineering & Applied Physics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best engineering & applied physics schools.
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Best Schools for Engineering & Applied Physics in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the engineering & applied physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Engineering & Applied Physics
No school ranked higher than University Of California Berkeley this year for engineering & applied physics. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 engineering & applied physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
More information about a degree in engineering & applied physics from University Of California Berkeley
California Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in engineering & applied physics, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 41 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from California Institute Of Technology generally make around $173,344.
Read more about the engineering & applied physics program at California Institute Of Technology
Biola University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best engineering & applied physics schools. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Biola University awarded about 17 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering & applied physics program make about $45,003 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,308.
More information about a degree in engineering & applied physics from Biola University
More Engineering & Applied Physics Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 12 schools evaluated.
- 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.
