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2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

29 Ranked Colleges
4,047 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 47,598 people earned their degree in general mechanical engineering, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 5,259 general mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,047 general mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 29 colleges that offered a degree in general mechanical engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general mechanical engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank General Mechanical Engineering Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stanford is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford University is $1,145 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Stanford University General Mechanical Engineering Report

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #2 spot on the list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 177 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $9,130 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Berkeley

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 137 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,254 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UCLA.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Los Angeles

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 144 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Los Angeles is $2,117 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Los Angeles

#5

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Caltech also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,756 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Caltech.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Caltech

#24 in overall quality

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 86 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fresno is $3,731 for california bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Fresno

#11 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 263 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Irvine is $10,373 for california bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Irvine

#20 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 231 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $6,100 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, 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 89%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Fullerton

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 308 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,680 for california bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

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 low student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%.

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

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#15 in overall quality

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 306 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, SDSU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Diego State University is $10,594 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at San Diego State University

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 193 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $7,595 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, 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 89%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at CSULB

#23 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 226 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Northridge is $6,883 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low 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 more about General Mechanical Engineering at CSUN

#9 in overall quality

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 176 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $10,769 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Davis.

The low 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Davis

#14

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#22 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 145 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Riverside is $9,151 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Riverside General Mechanical Engineering Report

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 179 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCSD has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCSD is $9,974 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, 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 full report on General Mechanical Engineering at UCSD

#16

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#13 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 88 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $11,895 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Santa Barbara

#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 204 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

Sac State also took the #25 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $7,823 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Mechanical Engineering at Sac State

#18

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

University of Southern California came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 96 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Southern California is $16,252 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Mechanical Engineering at USC

#17 in overall quality

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school awarded 225 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is $9,630 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona

#20

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 193 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #16 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $11,752 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low 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 Mechanical Engineering at San Jose State University

#19 in overall quality

California State University - Chico landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chico State is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 102 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Chico State is $11,576 for california bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Chico State

#22

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 97 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,517 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SFSU.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at SFSU

With a ranking of #23, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Merced is a medium-sized school located in Merced, California that handed out 146 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of California - Merced is $11,565 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UC Merced General Mechanical Engineering Report

#8 in overall quality

California State University Maritime Academy did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

Cal Maritime also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $16,346 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University Maritime Academy.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Cal Maritime

#25

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Santa Clara University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. SCU is a medium-sized school located in Santa Clara, California that handed out 48 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

SCU also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $18,949 for California Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Santa Clara University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 Mechanical Engineering at Santa Clara University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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