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2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

29 Ranked Colleges
7,805 Degrees Awarded
$27,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 200,458 engineering students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,888 and had an average of $23,564 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 25,440 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $67,620 and $21,114 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 7,805 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 29 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great 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 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.

More Ways to Rank Engineering Schools

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

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering in California (With Aid)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 654 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at Stanford

#25 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Engineering at California State University - Los Angeles

#22 in overall quality

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 42 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Fresno Engineering Report

#4

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 448 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best 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.

Read more about Engineering at UCLA

#9 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 Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 257 students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Irvine

#21 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 261 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best 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 more about Engineering at Cal State Fullerton

#3 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 842 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #3 spot in our “Best 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 UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Engineering at University of California - Berkeley

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 686 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UCSD also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCSD Engineering Report

#23 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 81 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at CSUN

#20 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 111 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at California State University - Long Beach

#11

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 130 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Engineering at UCR

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 92 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at San Diego State University

#13

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#12 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 87 students in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. 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.

Read more about Engineering at UCSB

#14

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#13 in overall quality

San Jose State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 962 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Jose State University Engineering Report

#10 in overall quality

University of California - Davis came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 186 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Davis Engineering Report

#18 in overall quality

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school handed out 70 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona also took the #18 spot in our “Best 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.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Engineering Report

#24 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 61 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #24. 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 Sac State Engineering Report

#11 in overall quality

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 161 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo are $21,009, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#19

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #19, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 29 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at San Francisco State University

#20

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#6 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California Institute of Technology is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 75 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Caltech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at California Institute of Technology

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best 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 California State University - Chico are $18,802.

Read full report on Engineering at Chico State

#22

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 50 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree engineering students with aid list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Santa Cruz Engineering Report

University of California - Merced came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Merced, California, and it awarded 17 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Merced are $43,854.

Full University of California - Merced Engineering Report

#24

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Rohnert Park, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

SSU also took the #0 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SSU are $18,890, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at SSU

#25

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
#19 in overall quality

University of the Pacific did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. University of the Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Stockton, California. It awarded 29 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Pacific also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of the Pacific are $49,374, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at University of the Pacific

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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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