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2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region

47 Ranked Colleges
5,691 Degrees Awarded
$13,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor's in the Far Western US Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 the Far Western US region, there were 7,340 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $64,492 and $21,066 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,691 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,083 and $22,209 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking, we looked at 47 colleges that offer a degree in mechanical engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent 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 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

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 ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” list to help you make the college decision.

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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in the Far Western US Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University Maritime Academy. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. This small school is located in Vallejo, California, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Maritime not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University Maritime Academy is $20,597 for far western us region bachelor’s degree me 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%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Cal Maritime

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 86 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,464 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students per year to attend California State University - Fresno.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low 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%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Fresno

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Northridge landed the #3 spot on the list. CSUN is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 226 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,414 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students per year to attend California State University - Northridge.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at CSUN

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #4 spot on the list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 193 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region bachelor’s degree me students list, CSULB has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $9,622 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Long Beach

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 #5 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a large public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 308 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region bachelor’s degree me students list, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $21,595 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students per year to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #6. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 102 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $15,017 for far western us region bachelor’s degree me students per year to attend Chico State.

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 Mechanical Engineering at Chico State

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 225 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is $12,734 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

The low 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Mechanical Engineering Report

#8

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #8. San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 193 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $14,928 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at San Jose State University

#9

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 306 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our far western us region bachelor’s degree me students list, SDSU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SDSU is $14,788 for far western us region bachelor’s degree me students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full SDSU Mechanical Engineering Report

California State University - Fullerton ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 231 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fullerton is $7,991 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Fullerton

#11

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

Washington State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #11. Pullman, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 294 students in 2019-2020.

Wazzu did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Washington State University is $16,358 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Wazzu

#12

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 97 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for San Francisco State University is $15,113 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

Full San Francisco State University Mechanical Engineering Report

California State University - Sacramento landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 204 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $9,979 for far western us region bachelor’s degree me students.

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%.

Full Sac State Mechanical Engineering Report

University of Nevada - Reno ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. University of Nevada - Reno is a large school located in Reno, Nevada that handed out 146 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNR is $15,081 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Nevada - Reno

University of Nevada - Las Vegas landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a public institution located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 98 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,424 for far western us region bachelor’s degree me students per year to attend University of Nevada - Las Vegas.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Nevada - Las Vegas

With a ranking of #16, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 144 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Cal State LA is $2,768 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#17

Oregon State University

Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon State University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Corvallis, Oregon, this large public school handed out 284 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Oregon State also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Oregon State University is $20,016 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Oregon State Mechanical Engineering Report

#18

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska

University of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. University of Alaska Fairbanks is a medium-sized school located in Fairbanks, Alaska that handed out 23 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UAF is $10,333 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

Full University of Alaska Fairbanks Mechanical Engineering Report

#19

Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, Oregon

Oregon Institute of Technology landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Oregon Institute of Technology is a medium-sized school located in Klamath Falls, Oregon that handed out 55 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for OIT is $16,210 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

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 Mechanical Engineering at OIT

#20

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington

Eastern Washington University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 70 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Washington University is $12,607 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

Full EWU Mechanical Engineering Report

#21

Portland State University

Portland, Oregon

Portland State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Portland, Oregon, this large public school awarded 115 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Portland State University is $13,040 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Portland State University

#22

University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, Alaska

With a ranking of #22, University of Alaska Anchorage did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. University of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution located in Anchorage, Alaska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 52 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,995 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree ME students per year to attend UAA.

Full University of Alaska Anchorage Mechanical Engineering Report

#23

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii

University of Hawaii at Manoa landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Hawaii at Manoa is a fairly large school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 79 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Hawaii at Manoa is $15,030 for far western us region bachelor’s degree me students.

The low 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 Mechanical Engineering at UH Manoa

University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 124 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $13,297 for far western us region bachelor’s degree me students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UW Seattle

#25

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

California Baptist University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Riverside, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Cal Baptist is $24,707 for far western us region bachelor’s degree me students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Cal Baptist

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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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