Best Schools for Engineering in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall engineering education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Engineering
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 2,385 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $116,597 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,930 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 1,184 engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $107,846 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 1,701 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of Southern California earn around $99,185 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $11,783 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for engineering. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 1,626 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $94,212 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $17,938 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at University Of California San Diego, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 1,899 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $86,544 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,235 to complete this degree.
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Point Loma Nazarene University placed #6 among the best engineering schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $54,116. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $22,542 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #7 for engineering this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. About 1,169 engineering degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $90,656 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,400.
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San Jose State University landed the #8 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,506 engineering students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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University Of California Davis came in at #9 for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 1,001 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $82,556 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,668 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #10 position for engineering this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 1,626 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $89,858 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,426 to complete this degree.
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Oregon Health And Science University landed the #11 spot for engineering this year. Located in the city of Portland, Oregon Health And Science University is a mid-sized public university. Oregon Health And Science University awarded about 14 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $126,454 in their early career. Oregon Health And Science University graduates carry a median of $32,059 in student loans.
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California Institute Of Technology ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pasadena. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 245 engineering degrees were awarded at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from California Institute Of Technology earn around $173,344 in the first couple years of their career.
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University Of California Irvine earned the #13 position for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,305 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $76,469 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,099 to complete this degree.
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Santa Clara University landed the #14 spot for engineering this year. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 539 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $123,467. Students borrow a median of $24,197 to complete this degree.
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Harvey Mudd College landed the #15 spot for engineering this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Harvey Mudd College graduates 92% of students within six years. About 62 engineering degrees were awarded at Harvey Mudd College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Harvey Mudd College generally make around $92,491. Typical student debt for the program is $22,240.
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Chapman University came in at #16 for engineering this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Chapman University earn around $50,947 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657.
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University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #17 for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 392 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $87,215 in their early career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,001 in student loans.
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San Diego State University placed #18 among the best engineering schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 748 engineering degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $77,775. Typical student debt for the program is $19,122.
See the full engineering program report for San Diego State University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #19 spot for engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 1,124 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn around $76,017 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,230 to complete this degree.
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California Maritime Academy earned the #20 position for engineering this year. California Maritime Academy is a small public school located in the city of Vallejo. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 43 engineering degrees were awarded at California Maritime Academy in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from California Maritime Academy generally make around $92,315. Students borrow a median of $19,690 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #21 for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Cruz. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 253 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $92,893 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,289 to complete this degree.
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University Of California San Francisco ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of California San Francisco is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 28 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Francisco in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of California San Francisco earn a median of $118,532 early in their careers.
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California State University San Marcos ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. About 55% of students finish within six years. California State University San Marcos awarded about 59 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,726 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,527.
More information about a degree in engineering from California State University San Marcos
California State University Sacramento ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 505 engineering degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $76,855. Students borrow a median of $18,768 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for California State University Sacramento
University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #25 for engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 149 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Bothell Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn around $111,861 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Bothell Campus graduates carry a median of $15,546 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong engineering education:
Narrow Engineering Schools by State
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 210 schools evaluated.
- 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.
