Best Computer Engineering Schools in California
California has 26 colleges offering Computer Engineering programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 1,446 recent graduates. Graduates earn $72,447 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $70,338.
School choice matters significantly: University of California-Los Angeles graduates earn $97,071 while University of the Pacific graduates earn $74,017 — a $23,054 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.
Public vs Private: Computer Engineering in California
Private schools produce $11,855 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.
Computer Engineering Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · Public
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Public
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · Public
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · Public
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA · Private
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA · Public
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA · Public
DeVry University-California
Ontario, CA · For-Profit
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · Public
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA · Private
Frequently Asked Questions
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Other Popular Majors in California
Computer Engineering in Other States
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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.