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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California

10 Ranked Colleges
225 Degrees Awarded
$35,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California

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 Doctorate in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 47,598 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 20th most popular in the United States. 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 doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 225 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking looked at 10 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great mechanical engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California.

Top 12 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California

#1

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 #1 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s ME degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UCLA

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 doctorate’s ME degrees to qualified students.

UC Berkeley also took the #2 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified doctorate’s ME students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree me students list, UCSD has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UCSD

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California. Located in Davis, California, this large public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’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 University of California - Davis are $28,700.

Full UC Davis Mechanical Engineering Report

#8 in overall quality

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 Doctorate in California list. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s ME degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Irvine Mechanical Engineering Report

#6

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#9 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified doctorate’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #9 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Mechanical Engineering Report

#10 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s ME degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

UCR also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#8

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#5 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 13 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full USC Mechanical Engineering Report

#8

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California
#7 in overall quality

Santa Clara University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #8. SCU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Santa Clara, California. It awarded 1 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree me students list, SCU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’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 Santa Clara University are $23,507.

Full Santa Clara University Mechanical Engineering Report

#9

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Stanford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #9. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s ME degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’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 Stanford University are $55,011.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Stanford

#12 in overall quality

University of California - Merced ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California list. UC Merced is a medium-sized school located in Merced, California that handed out 3 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Merced, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. 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 full report on Mechanical Engineering at UC Merced

#10

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#3 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #10. California Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Caltech also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at California Institute of Technology

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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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