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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Materials Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region

15 Ranked Colleges
662 Degrees Awarded
$9,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 3,415 people earned their degree in general materials engineering, making the major the 199th most popular in the United States.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 662 general materials engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in general materials engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general materials engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general materials engineering program at the school. 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 “Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for General Materials Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees to 73 students in 2020-2021.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford University is $1,233 for Far Western US Region Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Stanford University General Materials Engineering Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 76 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $9,037 for Far Western US Region Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCLA.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles General Materials Engineering Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 72 degrees to qualified ’s materials processing and manufacturing students in 2020-2021.

UCSD also made our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $9,823 for far western us region materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of California - San Diego General Materials Engineering Report

4

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 92 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW Seattle is $5,194 for far western us region materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at UW Seattle

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $6,540 for Far Western US Region Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - Irvine.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at University of California - Irvine

6

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 53 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $10,006 for Far Western US Region Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - Davis.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at UC Davis

7
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Washington State University is a large school located in Pullman, Washington that handed out 43 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our far western us region materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Wazzu has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $7,689 for far western us region materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Washington State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Materials Engineering at Washington State University

8
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 34 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

USC also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend USC is $17,287 for Far Western US Region Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on General Materials Engineering at University of Southern California

9

With a ranking of #9, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a large public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 41 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $12,173 for far western us region materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Materials Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

10

California State University - Northridge landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 10 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUN, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Northridge is $6,266 for Far Western US Region Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 more about General Materials Engineering at CSUN

11
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

With a ranking of #11, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $12,158 for Far Western US Region Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on General Materials Engineering at San Jose State University

12

University of California - Riverside landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCR is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees to qualified students.

UCR also took the #12 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCR is $6,810 for far western us region materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at UCR

13

University of Nevada - Reno ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Nevada - Reno is a large school located in Reno, Nevada that handed out 16 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

UNR also made our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $11,795 for Far Western US Region Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nevada - Reno.

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%.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at University of Nevada - Reno

14

University of California - Merced ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our far western us region materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Merced has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Merced is $10,363 for Far Western US Region Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Materials Engineering at University of California - Merced

15

Portland State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Portland, Oregon, this large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified ’s materials processing and manufacturing students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our far western us region materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Portland State University has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Portland State University is $10,716 for far western us region materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.

Full Portland State University General Materials Engineering Report

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