Best colleges for Manufacturing Engineering in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona and California State University - Northridge award the most Manufacturing Engineering degrees and certificates in California: 25, 25 and 22 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 California colleges offer Manufacturing Engineering and award 108 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Manufacturing Engineering is a specialized branch of engineering focused on the design and optimization of manufacturing processes. This program is ideal for students interested in applying engineering principles to develop tools,…
Top institution, 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 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,549 | 25 | 68% | — | $17,083 |
Colleges awarding the most Manufacturing Engineering degrees in California
Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 25 | $79,549 |
| 3 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 4 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 7 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 2 | Not reported |
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 Manufacturing Engineering programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Manufacturing Engineering degrees?+
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (25 graduates a year), California State Polytechnic University - Pomona (25 graduates a year) and California State University - Northridge (22 graduates a year) award the most Manufacturing Engineering degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 California colleges offer Manufacturing Engineering.
Which Manufacturing Engineering program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona tops the list at $79,549. 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 Manufacturing Engineering program?+
Manufacturing Engineering is a specialized branch of engineering focused on the design and optimization of manufacturing processes. This program is ideal for students interested in applying engineering principles to develop tools,…
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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