Best Schools for Engineering in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall engineering education in California.
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. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 2,385 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $116,597 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,930 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for engineering. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 1,184 engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Stanford University earn around $107,846 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,701 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $99,185 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $11,783 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,626 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $94,212. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $17,938 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. 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. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $18,235 in student loans.
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Point Loma Nazarene University earned the #6 position for engineering this year. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 10 engineering degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $54,116 early in their careers. 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 landed the #7 spot 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. There were roughly 1,169 engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data 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 ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 1,506 engineering degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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University Of California Davis earned the #9 position for engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 1,001 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $82,556. Students borrow a median of $15,668 to complete this degree.
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California Institute Of Technology came in at #10 for engineering this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. California Institute Of Technology graduates 94% of students within six years. California Institute Of Technology awarded about 245 engineering degrees in the most recent data 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 ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 1,305 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $76,469 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $19,099 in student loans.
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Santa Clara University earned the #12 position for engineering this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 539 engineering degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent 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 placed #13 among the best engineering schools. Harvey Mudd College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 62 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Harvey Mudd College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Harvey Mudd College generally make around $92,491. Harvey Mudd College graduates carry a median of $22,240 in student loans.
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Chapman University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 17 engineering degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Chapman University earn around $50,947 in the first couple years of their career. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Barbara placed #15 among the best engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 392 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $87,215 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,001.
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San Diego State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 748 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $77,775 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,122.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 1,124 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $76,017 in their early career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $19,230 in student loans.
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California Maritime Academy earned the #18 position for engineering this year. California Maritime Academy is a small public school located in the city of Vallejo. California Maritime Academy graduates 60% of students within six years. California Maritime Academy awarded about 43 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from California Maritime Academy earn around $92,315 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,690.
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University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 253 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $92,893. Students borrow a median of $20,289 to complete this degree.
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University Of California San Francisco earned the #20 position for engineering this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of California San Francisco is a mid-sized public university. About 28 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Francisco in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of California San Francisco earn around $118,532 in the first couple years of their career.
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California State University San Marcos ranked #21 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. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. California State University San Marcos awarded about 59 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from California State University San Marcos earn around $48,726 in the first couple years of their career. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $17,527 in student loans.
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California State University Sacramento earned the #22 position for engineering this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 505 engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $76,855 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,768.
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Biola University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 17 engineering degrees were awarded at Biola University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Biola University generally make around $45,003. Biola University graduates carry a median of $25,308 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton came in at #24 for engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 511 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $79,671 early in their careers. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,125 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach landed the #25 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 900 engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $72,530 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,822 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong engineering education:
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 · 150 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.
