College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California

29 Ranked Colleges
3,935 Degrees Awarded
$65,678 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on ME Major in California

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 “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 46,178 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $69,007 and had an average of $23,944 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 5,137 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $73,918 and $19,735 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,935 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,566 and $21,995 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California” ranking analyzed 29 colleges that offered a degree in mechanical engineering. That schools that top this list have a program in mechanical engineering in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Mechanical Engineering Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More ME Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools 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.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree me students.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University Maritime Academy. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California list. Located in Vallejo, California, this small public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

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 Mechanical Engineering at California State University Maritime Academy

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Merced. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California list. Merced, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 155 students in 2020-2021.

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

Full University of California - Merced Mechanical Engineering Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California list. Caltech is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 26 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Caltech Mechanical Engineering Report

4

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 #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 293 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 more about Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 227 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

6

California State University - Sacramento came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 210 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Sac State

7

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 287 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 UC Irvine Mechanical Engineering Report

8

California State University - Los Angeles came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 164 students in 2020-2021.

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 Mechanical Engineering at Cal State LA

9
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 227 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full San Diego State University Mechanical Engineering Report

10
SCU crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #10. Santa Clara, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Santa Clara University

11

University of California - Davis ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California list. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 234 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 UC Davis Mechanical Engineering Report

12

California State University - Northridge came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 222 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

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 Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Northridge

13

University of California - San Diego landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 232 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Mechanical Engineering at University of California - San Diego

14
USD crest
University of San Diego
San Diego, California

University of San Diego landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking. This medium-sized school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of San Diego

15

California State University - Fullerton ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 195 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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

16

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 72 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified 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 more about Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Chico

17

California State University - Long Beach came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 168 students in 2020-2021.

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 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full CSULB Mechanical Engineering Report

18
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

California Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Riverside, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 50 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Cal Baptist

19

University of California - Riverside came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking. UCR is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 110 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Riverside Mechanical Engineering Report

20
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 154 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Full San Jose State University Mechanical Engineering Report

21
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

Loyola Marymount University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. Loyola Marymount is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 43 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Loyola Marymount

22
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #22. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 102 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full SFSU Mechanical Engineering Report

23

California State University - Fresno came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking. California State University - Fresno is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 71 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

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

Full California State University - Fresno Mechanical Engineering Report

24

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #24. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 170 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Berkeley

25

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major in California list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 154 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UCLA Mechanical Engineering Report

Switch to a Similar Major

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options