2023 Most Popular Engineering Schools in California
Finding the Best Engineering School for You
In 2020-2021, engineering students earned 25,076 degrees and certificates from a California school, making the subject the 8th in the state.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Engineering Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 139 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Engineering program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Engineering Schools in California
Check out the engineering programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in California.
Top 15% Most Popular Engineering Schools
Our analysis found University of California - San Diego to be the most popular school for engineering students who want to pursue a degree in California. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Engineering majors at UCSD take out an average of $19,210 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $142, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Out of the 139 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the # 2 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Berkeley.
On average, engineering graduates from UC Berkeley take out $13,535 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $370.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means San Jose State University is a great place for engineering students. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose.
Read full report on Engineering at San Jose State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Engineering Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at USC take out is $14,557. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $560, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
The excellent programs at University of California - Irvine helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best engineering schools in California. UC Irvine is a fairly large public school located in the city of Irvine.
Engineering majors at UC Irvine take out an average of $18,613 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $261.
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular engineering programs. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.
While working on their degree, engineering majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo accumulate an average of around $20,507 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $455, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Engineering at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Engineering Schools in California ranking. UCLA is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles.
The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at UCLA take out is $18,379. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $440.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Los Angeles
University of California - Davis came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Engineering Schools in California ranking. UC Davis is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Davis.
Engineering majors at UC Davis take out an average of $14,812 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $288.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Davis
With a ranking of #9, Stanford University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for engineering students. Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
On average, engineering graduates from Stanford take out $8,929 in student loans while working on their degree.
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Engineering Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Pomona, Cal Poly Pomona is a public college with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, engineering majors at Cal Poly Pomona accumulate an average of around $22,518 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $183.
Read full report on Engineering at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Naval Postgraduate School came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Engineering Schools in California ranking. Located in the suburb of Monterey, Naval Postgraduate School is a public school with a small student population.
Read full report on Engineering at Naval Postgraduate School
California State University - Long Beach came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Engineering Schools in California ranking. CSULB is a fairly large public school located in the city of Long Beach.
The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at CSULB take out is $19,310.
Read full report on Engineering at California State University - Long Beach
San Diego State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Engineering Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of San Diego, SDSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Engineering majors at SDSU take out an average of $20,714 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $252, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
University of California - Riverside ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Engineering Schools in California list. UCR is a very large public school located in the large city of Riverside.
The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at UCR take out is $21,835. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $187.
California State University - Fullerton landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular engineering programs. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.
After completing their degree, engineering graduates from Cal State Fullerton carry an average student debt load of $20,050.
Read full report on Engineering at California State University - Fullerton
California State University - Sacramento came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Engineering Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
On average, engineering graduates from Sac State take out $19,807 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $174.
Full Engineering at California State University - Sacramento Report
California State University - Northridge ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Engineering Schools in California list. Located in the city of Northridge, CSUN is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at CSUN take out is $18,234.
University of California - Merced came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Engineering Schools in California ranking. Located in the rural area of Merced, UC Merced is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
After completing their degree, engineering graduates from UC Merced carry an average student debt load of $20,819. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $265.
Full Engineering at University of California - Merced Report
Santa Clara University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for engineering students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Santa Clara, SCU is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
After completing their degree, engineering graduates from SCU carry an average student debt load of $24,164.
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Engineering Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public school with a fairly large student population.
On average, engineering graduates from Cal State LA take out $16,250 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on Engineering at California State University - Los Angeles
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Engineering Schools in California award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | University of California - Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 22 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA |
| 23 | California State University - Chico | Chico, CA |
| 24 | California State University - Fresno | Fresno, CA |
| 25 | University of California - Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA |
| 26 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA |
| 27 | California Baptist University | Riverside, CA |
Best Engineering Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Most Popular Engineering Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 3,545 |
| Oregon | 2,281 |
| Hawaii | 301 |
| Nevada | 900 |
| Alaska | 178 |
Engineering Related Majors
Engineering Majors to Study
Most Popular Majors Related to Engineering
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer & Information Sciences | 254,454 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences | 177,778 |
| Engineering Technologies | 85,188 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | 52,396 |
| Physical Sciences | 50,306 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Petty Officer 3rd Class Declan Barnes.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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