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2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

23 Ranked Colleges
985 Degrees Awarded
$27,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value ME Schools for a Master'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. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Mechanical Engineering is the 20th most popular major in the country with 47,598 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,495 and had an average of $23,104 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 5,259 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $66,612 and $20,850 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 985 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality mechanical engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

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

More Ways to Rank Mechanical Engineering Schools

The me school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 23 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 163 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Stanford

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 148 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #3 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 99 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCLA Mechanical Engineering Report

#4

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Caltech is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Caltech also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Caltech are $56,649, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at California Institute of Technology

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 39 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Irvine Mechanical Engineering Report

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cal State LA has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Cal State LA

California State University - Fullerton landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

CSULB also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSULB Mechanical Engineering Report

University of California - San Diego landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 62 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

UCSD also took the #7 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - San Diego Mechanical Engineering Report

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658.

Full SDSU Mechanical Engineering Report

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school awarded 35 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $21,009, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

California State University - Northridge ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

CSUN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Northridge

#13

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#14 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCR has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UCR

With a ranking of #14, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school awarded 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Davis

#15

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 9 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #0 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670.

Full UCSB Mechanical Engineering Report

#16

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 96 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Southern California

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 16 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356.

Full California State University - Sacramento Mechanical Engineering Report

#18

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 48 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Jose State Mechanical Engineering Report

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 16 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona also took the #17 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are $18,377, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona

University of California - Merced did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. UC Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 6 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Merced

#21

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. This medium-sized school is located in Santa Clara, California, and it awarded 23 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SCU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Santa Clara University are $23,507, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Santa Clara University Mechanical Engineering Report

#22

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

California Baptist University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal Baptist is a fairly large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 2 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Baptist, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cal Baptist Mechanical Engineering Report

#23

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#11 in overall quality

Loyola Marymount University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. This medium-sized school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 13 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount University are $19,756, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Loyola Marymount 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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