2027 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 119 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Schools
For return on investment in engineering, no school beat Moorpark College this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,075. Engineering graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $11,196. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
College Of San Mateo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Set against $12,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
A rank of #5 makes Ventura College one of the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $20,250. Early-career engineering graduates make about $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Engineering graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College came in at #7 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #8 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $10,288. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College placed #9 among the best values for engineering. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $11,306. Engineering graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hartnell College earned the #10 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Engineering graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $35,080. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,423. Early-career engineering graduates make about $75,623. That is a strong return on a $17,423 median debt. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
Shasta College placed #12 among the best values for engineering. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #13 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $6,382. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College landed the #14 spot for engineering value this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Modesto Junior College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $8,575. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College earned the #17 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
California State University San Bernardino ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,096 in student loans. Engineering graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $49,043 early in their careers. Set against $18,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.
Clovis Community College Fresno ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638.
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #20 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $14,692. Early-career engineering graduates make about $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Norco College placed #21 among the best values for engineering. Norco College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fullerton earned the #22 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $15,125. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $79,695. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Antelope Valley College came in at #23 for value in engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Antelope Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,124, compared with $9,548 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $10,729. Engineering graduates of Antelope Valley College earn a median of $50,744 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,729 median debt.
California State University Bakersfield ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,087, compared with $20,687 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,009 ten years after entry. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Allan Hancock College earned the #25 position for value in engineering this year. Allan Hancock College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Maria. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,786 ten years out.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering value ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 119 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 119 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
