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2023 Most Popular Colleges for General Engineering in California

27 Ranked Colleges
475 Degrees Awarded
$34,300 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.

General Engineering is the 96th most popular major in the country with 9,018 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across California, there were 475 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California” ranking looked at 27 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular general engineering programs in the United States.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California”.

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 123 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UC Davis General Engineering Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 58 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UCLA General Engineering Report

2
Harvey Mudd College crest
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvey Mudd College. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 58 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Harvey Mudd College General Engineering Report

4
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 54 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at San Jose State

5

Out of the 27 schools in the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Riverside landed the #5 spot on the list. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UCR General Engineering Report

6
Pacific crest
University of the Pacific
Stockton, California

University of the Pacific did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. University of the Pacific is located in Stockton, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at University of the Pacific

7
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full San Francisco State University General Engineering Report

8

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full California State University - Fresno General Engineering Report

9

With a ranking of #9, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. This large school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 9 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on General Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona

10

With a ranking of #10, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo General Engineering Report

11
USD crest
University of San Diego
San Diego, California

University of San Diego landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking. This medium-sized school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 7 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at University of San Diego

11
Azusa Pacific crest
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California

Azusa Pacific University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking. Azusa Pacific is a medium-sized school located in Azusa, California that handed out 7 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about General Engineering at Azusa Pacific University

13

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 5 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UC Berkeley General Engineering Report

13
SCU crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California

With a ranking of #13, Santa Clara University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Santa Clara, California, and it awarded 5 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Santa Clara University General Engineering Report

15

With a ranking of #15, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at CSULB

15

University of California - Irvine came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Engineering at University of California - Irvine

17

With a ranking of #17, Saint Mary’s College of California did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. This small school is located in Moraga, California, and it awarded 2 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Saint Mary’s College of California General Engineering Report

18
PUC crest
Pacific Union College
Angwin, California

With a ranking of #18, Pacific Union College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. Located in Angwin, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

Full Pacific Union College General Engineering Report

19

With a ranking of #19, California Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. California Institute of Technology is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 0 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on General Engineering at Caltech

19

With a ranking of #19, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 0 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at Cal State Fullerton

19

California State University - East Bay landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking. California State University - East Bay is located in Hayward, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at Cal State East Bay

19
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

California Baptist University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking. Cal Baptist is a private not-for-profit institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California Baptist University General Engineering Report

19
Westmont crest
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, California

With a ranking of #19, Westmont College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. Westmont College is a small school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 0 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Westmont College General Engineering Report

19
PLNU crest
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California

Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking, coming in at #19. This small school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 0 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at PLNU

19

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles General Engineering Report

19

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California ranking, coming in at #19. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at CSUN

19
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #19, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in California list. University of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full USFCA General Engineering Report

Notes and References

References

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