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Best Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California

The best colleges for a Mechanical Engineering degree in California, led by Stanford University, University of California-Berkeley and University of Southern California. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Mechanical Engineering programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in California?

Based on our rankings, Stanford University is the top-ranked college for Mechanical Engineering in California. Other top choices include University of California-Berkeley, University of Southern California, University of California-Los Angeles.

What are the best Mechanical Engineering schools?

The best Mechanical Engineering schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are Stanford University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Southern California. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Mechanical Engineering?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Mechanical Engineering programs is approximately $40,399 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Mechanical Engineering degree?

A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Mechanical Engineering rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Mechanical Engineering graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Mechanical Engineering programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $91,053 per year. Below are the highest-paying Mechanical Engineering programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. Stanford University — Stanford, CA · 3.6% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $65,910 tuition · 92% grad rate
  2. 2. University of California-Berkeley — Berkeley, CA · 11% acceptance · $50,547 tuition · 93% grad rate
  3. 3. University of Southern California — Los Angeles, CA · 9.8% acceptance · SAT 1,495 · $72,097 tuition · 92% grad rate
  4. 4. University of California-Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA · 9% acceptance · $49,403 tuition · 93% grad rate
  5. 5. Santa Clara University — Santa Clara, CA · 48% acceptance · SAT 1,426 · $61,293 tuition · 88% grad rate
  6. 6. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo — San Luis Obispo, CA · 31.3% acceptance · $34,665 tuition · 86% grad rate
  7. 7. University of California-San Diego — La Jolla, CA · 26.7% acceptance · $50,958 tuition · 86% grad rate
  8. 8. University of California-Davis — Davis, CA · 41.8% acceptance · $50,974 tuition · 86% grad rate
  9. 9. University of California-Santa Barbara — Santa Barbara, CA · 33% acceptance · $50,614 tuition · 83% grad rate
  10. 10. Loyola Marymount University — Los Angeles, CA · 45.1% acceptance · SAT 1,359 · $62,357 tuition · 79% grad rate
  11. 11. University of California-Riverside — Riverside, CA · 76.4% acceptance · $49,806 tuition · 76% grad rate
  12. 12. University of California-Merced — Merced, CA · 90.5% acceptance · $49,823 tuition · 69% grad rate
  13. 13. San Diego State University — San Diego, CA · 36.2% acceptance · $21,328 tuition · 76% grad rate
  14. 14. University of San Diego — San Diego, CA · 52.4% acceptance · $59,486 tuition · 84% grad rate
  15. 15. University of the Pacific — Stockton, CA · 71.3% acceptance · SAT 1,346 · $57,080 tuition · 69% grad rate
  16. 16. California State University-Northridge — Northridge, CA · 93.5% acceptance · $20,058 tuition · 57% grad rate
  17. 17. California State University-Fullerton — Fullerton, CA · 90.5% acceptance · $20,070 tuition · 70% grad rate
  18. 18. California State University-Sacramento — Sacramento, CA · 94% acceptance · $20,618 tuition · 56% grad rate
  19. 19. San Francisco State University — San Francisco, CA · 96.4% acceptance · $20,550 tuition · 50% grad rate
  20. 20. California State University-Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA · 91.3% acceptance · $19,760 tuition · 53% grad rate
  21. 21. California State University-Fresno — Fresno, CA · 95.3% acceptance · $19,950 tuition · 57% grad rate
  22. 22. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona — Pomona, CA · 75.2% acceptance · $20,380 tuition · 68% grad rate
  23. 23. California Baptist University — Riverside, CA · 84.9% acceptance · $41,228 tuition · 62% grad rate
  24. 24. California State University-Long Beach — Long Beach, CA · 46.3% acceptance · $19,950 tuition · 69% grad rate
  25. 25. California State University-Chico — Chico, CA · 92.7% acceptance · $21,072 tuition · 63% grad rate

Best Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California on PickACampus