2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked San Diego Miramar College the best value for a degree in engineering in California. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moorpark College earned it the #2 place for engineering. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at College Of San Mateo, which ranked #3. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $12,831. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at San Diego Mesa College, which ranked #4. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $6,999. Early-career engineering graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #5 place 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, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the engineering program here. 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.
Fresno City College came in at #6 for value in engineering this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College placed #7 among 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, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $20,250. Early-career engineering graduates make about $99,778. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reedley College earned the #8 position for value in engineering this year. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $30,520. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College landed the #9 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Norco College placed #10 among the best values for engineering. Set in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,206 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #11 for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,886 in student loans. Engineering graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
Santa Monica College came in at #12 for value in engineering this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
College Of The Canyons ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $9,776. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hartnell College placed #14 among the best values for engineering. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $6,000. Early-career engineering graduates make about $35,080. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Shasta College placed #15 among the best values for engineering. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Los Angeles placed #16 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Students borrow a median of $17,423 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $74,746. Set against $17,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
Folsom Lake College landed the #17 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,568.
Chabot College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sacramento City College earned the #19 position for value in engineering this year. Sacramento City College is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Students from in state pay about $1,288 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Students borrow a median of $13,180 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $46,522. That is a strong return on a $13,180 median debt.
California State University Fullerton landed the #20 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $79,671. That is a strong return on a $15,125 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, 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. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
American River College came in at #22 for value in engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,105 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $76,077. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt.
Allan Hancock College placed #23 among the best values for engineering. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $9,892. Median earnings reach $42,786 ten years out.
Sierra College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,733 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $29,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mission College placed #25 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,438, with out-of-state students paying around $12,500. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,223. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,936 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Engineering Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for engineering this year:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 150 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 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.
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
