Best colleges for Engineering-Related Fields in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Stanford University, University of Southern California and Art Center College of Design are the top bachelor's Engineering-Related Fields programs in California by graduate earnings. Stanford University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $100,788, College Scorecard. Stanford University, California State University - Northridge and University of Southern California award the most Engineering-Related Fields degrees in California: 185, 175 and 102 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 California colleges offer Engineering-Related Fields and award 774 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Engineering-Related Fields program encompasses a variety of disciplines that apply scientific and mathematical principles to develop technological solutions. This program is ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in…
Top 4 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 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $100,788 | 185 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,234 | 102 | 92% | $26,873 | $19,250 |
| 3 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,860 | 62 | 79% | $48,578 | $37,250 |
| 4 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $69,042 | 4 | 63% | — | $16,601 |
Colleges awarding the most Engineering-Related Fields 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 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 185 | $100,788 |
| 2 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 175 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 102 | $73,234 |
| 4 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 79 | Not reported |
| 5 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena Private not-for-profit | 62 | $66,860 |
| 6 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 7 | California State University - East Bay Hayward Public | 34 | Not reported |
| 8 | Westcliff University Irvine Private for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
| 9 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
| 10 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 16 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 California colleges offering Engineering-Related Fields
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University - Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | 13 |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| California State University - Chico | Chico | Public | 4 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112).
Top skills
What Industrial Engineers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Engineering-Related Fields programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Engineering-Related Fields degrees?+
Stanford University (185 graduates a year), California State University - Northridge (175 graduates a year) and University of Southern California (102 graduates a year) award the most Engineering-Related Fields degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 California colleges offer Engineering-Related Fields.
What is the best college for Engineering-Related Fields in California?+
By graduate earnings, Stanford University leads among bachelor's Engineering-Related Fields programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $100,788, College Scorecard. University of Southern California and Art Center College of Design follow. By degrees awarded, Stanford University is the largest, with 185 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Engineering-Related Fields program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Stanford University tops the list at $100,788. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Industrial Engineers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Industrial Engineers in California is $125,850 (median $124,600), across about 32,680 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Engineering-Related Fields program?+
The Engineering-Related Fields program encompasses a variety of disciplines that apply scientific and mathematical principles to develop technological solutions. This program is ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Industrial Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +11.0% growth with around 25,200 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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