Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Cal Poly Maritime Academy, University of California-Berkeley and University of Southern California are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in California by graduate earnings. Cal Poly Maritime Academy leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $92,315, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley, University of California-San Diego and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in California: 474, 372 and 351 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 California colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 5,001 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic field that focuses on the study of physical machines and mechanisms, emphasizing force and movement. This program is designed for students interested in applying principles of engineering physics,…
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 | Cal Poly Maritime Academy Vallejo Public · Bachelor's degree | $92,315 | 25 | 60% | — | $19,690 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $88,497 | 474 | 93% | — | $13,200 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,356 | 248 | 92% | $26,873 | $17,500 |
| 4 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $83,011 | 351 | 86% | — | $20,500 |
| 5 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,865 | 84 | 88% | $44,094 | $19,500 |
| 6 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,108 | 116 | 83% | — | $15,908 |
| 7 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,016 | 287 | 93% | — | $17,000 |
| 8 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,962 | 51 | 84% | $26,035 | $26,093 |
| 9 | University of the Pacific Stockton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,785 | 29 | 69% | $23,964 | $28,596 |
| 10 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,231 | 162 | 86% | — | $15,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering 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 | 474 | $88,497 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 372 | $69,555 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 351 | $83,011 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 306 | $67,633 |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 297 | $75,040 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 287 | $79,016 |
| 7 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 261 | $60,996 |
| 8 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 248 | $69,754 |
| 9 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 248 | $83,356 |
| 10 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 236 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 20 California colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
University of California-Berkeley (474 graduates a year), University of California-San Diego (372 graduates a year) and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (351 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 California colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in California?+
By graduate earnings, Cal Poly Maritime Academy leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $92,315, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley and University of Southern California follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Berkeley is the largest, with 474 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Cal Poly Maritime Academy tops the list at $92,315. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in California is $136,660 (median $130,900), across about 30,530 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Mechanical Engineering program?+
Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic field that focuses on the study of physical machines and mechanisms, emphasizing force and movement. This program is designed for students interested in applying principles of engineering physics,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, science, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Mechanical Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +9.1% growth with around 18,100 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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