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Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in California

California has 29 colleges offering Mechanical Engineering programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 3,343 recent graduates. Graduates earn $65,455 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $64,630.

School choice matters significantly: California Institute of Technology graduates earn $83,177 while California State University-Los Angeles graduates earn $50,856 — a $32,321 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

29
Schools in CA
$65,455
CA Avg. Earnings
$64,630
National Avg.
297
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Mechanical Engineering in California

Public Schools (21)
$64,259
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (8)
$68,596
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $4,337 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Mechanical Engineering Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

#1
C

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA · Private

$83,177
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 3.1%
#2
C

California State University Maritime Academy

Vallejo, CA · Public

$78,971
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $83,137
Graduates: 46
Acceptance: 98.7%
#3
S

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private

$78,343
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $67,007
Graduates: 39
Acceptance: 3.9%
#4
U

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$75,518
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $73,836
Graduates: 104
Acceptance: 11.7%
#5
S

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

$74,576
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $74,547
Graduates: 51
Acceptance: 43.8%
#6
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$74,038
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $74,806
Graduates: 206
Acceptance: 29.8%
#7
C

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$68,499
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $66,920
Graduates: 47
Acceptance: 73.6%
#8
C

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$67,918
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $68,168
Graduates: 263
Acceptance: 73.7%
#9
U

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$67,846
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $62,687
Graduates: 108
Acceptance: 24.5%
#10
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$67,420
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $74,693
Graduates: 83
Acceptance: 10.0%
#11
U

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$67,324
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $64,370
Graduates: 162
Acceptance: 41.6%
#12
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$67,324
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $68,857
Graduates: 77
Acceptance: 8.7%
#13
U

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$67,324
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $67,424
Graduates: 56
Acceptance: 46.8%
#14
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$66,756
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $64,759
Graduates: 170
Acceptance: 93.2%
#15
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$66,222
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $68,880
Graduates: 64
Acceptance: 93.7%
#16
S

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$65,089
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $65,965
Graduates: 250
Acceptance: 34.4%
#17
C

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$65,029
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $61,380
Graduates: 225
Acceptance: 47.1%
#18
S

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$63,600
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $66,133
Graduates: 77
Acceptance: 80.2%
#19
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$63,005
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $59,355
Graduates: 244
Acceptance: 93.6%
#20
C

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$62,792
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $59,135
Graduates: 160
Acceptance: 86.7%
#21
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$61,516
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $65,759
Graduates: 88
Acceptance: 96.2%
#22
U

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$60,452
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $68,678
Graduates: 54
Acceptance: 27.8%
#23
C

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$60,230
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $55,516
Graduates: 68
Acceptance: 96.4%
#24
U

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$59,912
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $54,188
Graduates: 104
Acceptance: 63.3%
#25
L

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$57,318
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $67,425
Graduates: 40
Acceptance: 40.3%
#26
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$53,647
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $59,868
Graduates: 244
Acceptance: 25.6%
#27
U

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $63,400
Graduates: 27
Acceptance: 94.9%
#28
U

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public

$51,392
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $55,936
Graduates: 153
Acceptance: 39.2%
#29
C

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$50,856
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $56,166
Graduates: 133
Acceptance: 91.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Mechanical Engineering in California?
California Institute of Technology ranks #1 for Mechanical Engineering in California with median graduate earnings of $83,177 within two years of graduation. There are 29 schools offering Mechanical Engineering programs in the state.
How much do Mechanical Engineering graduates earn in California?
Mechanical Engineering graduates in California earn an average of $65,455 within two years of graduation. This is 1% above the national average of $64,630 for this major.
What is the hardest Mechanical Engineering school to get into in California?
California Institute of Technology is the most selective Mechanical Engineering program in California with an acceptance rate of 3.1%. The average acceptance rate across Mechanical Engineering programs in the state is 54.3%.
Should I attend a public or private school for Mechanical Engineering in California?
In California, private Mechanical Engineering programs produce average earnings of $68,596 vs $64,259 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 21 public and 8 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Engineering, General $76,184 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Manufacturing Engineering $73,841 Engineering-Related Fields $73,096 Computer Science $72,889
All colleges in California →

Mechanical Engineering in Other States

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.