2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California
28
Ranked Colleges
5,137
Degrees Awarded
$16,900
Avg Net Price*
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 General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.
General Mechanical Engineering is the 14th most popular major in the country with 46,178 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across California, there were 5,137 general mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking, we looked at 28 colleges that offer 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank General Mechanical Engineering Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California
The colleges and universities below are the best for california general mechanical engineering students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Mechanical Engineering in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school awarded 321 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $20,677 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 252 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $15,023 for california general mechanical engineering students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. 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%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at UCLA
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 320 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Berkeley is $16,032 for california general mechanical engineering students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UC Berkeley General Mechanical Engineering Report
Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #4 spot on the list. UCSD is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 379 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSD also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend UCSD is $15,240 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad 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 more about General Mechanical Engineering at UCSD
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University Maritime Academy. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California list. Cal Maritime is located in Vallejo, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california general mechanical engineering students list, Cal Maritime has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University Maritime Academy is $21,743 for california general mechanical engineering students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at California State University Maritime Academy
With a ranking of #6, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 274 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.
UC Davis also took the #6 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,768 for california general mechanical engineering students per year to attend University of California - Davis.
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 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 UC Davis General Mechanical Engineering Report
University of California - Irvine came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking. UC Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 359 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UC Irvine is $12,209 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of California - Irvine General Mechanical Engineering Report
San Diego State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 243 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Diego State University is $13,845 for california general mechanical engineering students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, 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 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full SDSU General Mechanical Engineering Report
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 247 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is $14,304 for california general mechanical engineering students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.
Full Cal Poly Pomona General Mechanical Engineering Report
California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking, coming in at #10. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 234 students in 2020-2021.
CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $8,523 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at CSUN
California State University - Long Beach came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 194 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for california general mechanical engineering students.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at CSULB
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California list. UCSB is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 93 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSB also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend UCSB is $16,252 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Santa Barbara
With a ranking of #13, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 209 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.
San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $16,542 for california general mechanical engineering students.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at San Jose State University
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking, coming in at #14. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 211 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State Fullerton also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $8,003 for california general mechanical engineering students per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full California State University - Fullerton General Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #15, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 229 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.
Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for california general mechanical engineering students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Sac State
With a ranking of #16, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 72 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.
Chico State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Chico is $16,218 for california general mechanical engineering students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Chico State
University of California - Riverside landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 144 students in 2020-2021.
UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Riverside is $11,822 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
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 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at UCR
With a ranking of #18, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California list. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 173 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. It costs about $3,302 for California General Mechanical Engineering students per year to attend Cal State LA.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Cal State LA
California State University - Fresno came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking. California State University - Fresno is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 71 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $6,230 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Fresno State
San Francisco State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California list. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 102 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for San Francisco State University is $14,459 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, 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 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at San Francisco State University
University of California - Merced did quite well in the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking, coming in at #21. Merced, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 171 students in 2020-2021.
UC Merced also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend UC Merced is $13,691 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
The undergrad 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 University of California - Merced
California Baptist University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking, coming in at #22. This fairly large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 58 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california general mechanical engineering students list, Cal Baptist has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California Baptist University is $26,719 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
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%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Cal Baptist
Loyola Marymount University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 61 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Loyola Marymount also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola Marymount is $44,467 for California General Mechanical Engineering students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Loyola Marymount
Santa Clara University landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking. Located in Santa Clara, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 71 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.
SCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California” list. It costs about $42,614 for california general mechanical engineering students per year to attend SCU.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full SCU General Mechanical Engineering Report
University of the Pacific came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in California ranking. University of the Pacific is a medium-sized school located in Stockton, California that handed out 15 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $28,380 for california general mechanical engineering students per year to attend University of the Pacific.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 University of the Pacific General Mechanical Engineering Report
college factual
