Best colleges for Electrical in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and University of Southern California are the top bachelor's Electrical programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $137,295, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley, University of California-San Diego and University of California-Los Angeles award the most Electrical degrees in California: 709, 391 and 367 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 35 California colleges offer Electrical and award 4,251 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering program focuses on the principles and applications of electricity, electronics, and communication systems. This program is designed for students interested in the technological…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $137,295 | 709 | 93% | — | $14,437 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $90,576 | 171 | 86% | — | $24,449 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,684 | 331 | 92% | $26,873 | $20,500 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $85,369 | 367 | 93% | — | $17,877 |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,827 | 180 | 68% | — | $18,812 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,687 | 391 | 86% | — | $20,342 |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,412 | 143 | 87% | — | $19,000 |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,842 | 81 | 75% | — | $17,048 |
| 9 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,247 | 20 | 58% | — | — |
| 10 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,278 | 126 | 69% | — | $19,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Electrical degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 709 | $137,295 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 391 | $80,687 |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 367 | $85,369 |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 331 | $89,684 |
| 5 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 277 | Not reported |
| 6 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 212 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 183 | Not reported |
| 8 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 180 | $80,827 |
| 9 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 173 | Not reported |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 171 | $90,576 |
ShowHide the other 25 California colleges offering Electrical
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071).
Top skills
What Electrical Engineers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Electrical programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Electrical degrees?+
University of California-Berkeley (709 graduates a year), University of California-San Diego (391 graduates a year) and University of California-Los Angeles (367 graduates a year) award the most Electrical degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 35 California colleges offer Electrical.
What is the best college for Electrical in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley leads among bachelor's Electrical programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $137,295, College Scorecard. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and University of Southern California follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Berkeley is the largest, with 709 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Electrical program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Berkeley tops the list at $137,295. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Electrical Engineers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Electrical Engineers in California is $151,180 (median $144,040), across about 24,230 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Electrical program?+
The Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering program focuses on the principles and applications of electricity, electronics, and communication systems. This program is designed for students interested in the technological…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop writing, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Electrical Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +7.2% growth with around 11,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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