State + Major Rankings
Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in California
Top Mechanical Engineering programs in California ranked by national standing and graduate earnings -- updated 2026.
Programs listed: 26
Avg major earnings: $93,128
Top Mechanical Engineering Programs in California
Nationally ranked schools appear first. Earnings reflect graduates of this specific major.
| # | School | 4yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCLA #6 national | $97,701 |
| 2 | USC #26 national | $93,001 |
| 3 | UC Berkeley #36 national | $98,455 |
| 4 | UC Davis #40 national | $86,137 |
| 5 | UC Irvine #47 national | $83,948 |
| 6 | UC Santa Barbara #48 national | $90,072 |
| 7 | Cal Poly SLO #52 national | $97,466 |
| 8 | Santa Clara University #54 national | $99,067 |
| 9 | UC San Diego #57 national | $94,289 |
| 10 | San Diego State University #123 national | $91,140 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Excludes for-profit institutions.
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