Rankings / By State
Best Engineering Colleges in California
- 33
- Schools
- $79,902
- Avg. Earnings
- 74%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,936
- Avg. Net Price
- $16,989
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $56,778 at the low end to $138,687 at the top. That 2.4× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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California State University-Los Angeles offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $59,211 against $3,967 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is California State University-Los Angeles, at $3,967 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: California Institute of Technology graduates 94% of its students, well above the 74% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Stanford University: graduates owe only 0.10× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Stanford University ($124,080 earnings), not the highest earner, Harvey Mudd College ($138,687). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. California State University-Los Angeles ($3,967/yr) and Santa Clara University ($50,062/yr) produce graduates earning $59,211 and $109,183 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $46,095 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, California State University-Los Angeles outperforms Harvey Mudd College: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with California State University-Los Angeles and California Institute of Technology. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
Engineering is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $78K within a decade, and mechanical engineer roles are projected to grow 10%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Stanford University #1 overall | $124,080 ▲ +55% vs avg | $13,807 | 92% | 94 |
| 2 California Institute of Technology #2 overall | $128,566 ▲ +61% vs avg | $16,075 | 94% | 93 |
| 3 Harvey Mudd College #3 overall | $138,687 ▲ +74% vs avg | $35,924 | 93% | 87 |
| $78,988 ▼ -1% vs avg | $13,760 | 67% | 81 | |
| $109,183 ▲ +37% vs avg | $50,062 | 88% | 80 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Engineering Colleges in California
This analysis ranks 33 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $79,902 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 74% and an average net price of $17,936.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: California State University-Los Angeles — Net Price: $3,967 | Graduation Rate: 53%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: California Institute of Technology — 94% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Harvey Mudd College — Median alumni earnings: $138,687
Data Insight
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Engineering Talent Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about America’s engineering talent pipeline?
$76,632
Median earnings (10yr)
75%
Median graduation rate
$14,304
Median net price
3.1%
Avg. mobility rate
Engineering remains one of the most reliable investments in higher education. Earnings are high, unemployment is low, and the skills tie directly to the physical infrastructure of the economy. ABET accreditation and co-op placements are the structural markers that separate programs, and reshoring plus federal infrastructure investment keeps amplifying demand.
Start with the medians across these 33 schools. Graduates earn a median of $76,632 ten years after enrollment, or about $28,632 above the $48,000 a typical American worker earns. The median graduation rate is 75%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $14,304 a year with about $15,500 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 34% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 3.1%.
Engineering programs that combine ABET accreditation with co-op or internship requirements produce the strongest outcomes. Median earnings of $76,632 reflect the field’s consistent premium over other disciplines. With infrastructure spending accelerating, demand for these graduates is structural rather than cyclical.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Stanford University lands at #1 with a 94/100 composite, led by academic quality (97/100) and pulled down by social mobility (83/100). Graduates earn a median $124,080 a decade after enrolling, 55% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,807 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
California Institute of Technology lands at #2 with a 93/100 composite, led by academic quality (96/100) and pulled down by social mobility (82/100). Graduates earn a median $128,566 a decade after enrolling, 61% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,075 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Harvey Mudd College lands at #3 with a 87/100 composite, led by academic quality (95/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (38/100). Graduates earn a median $138,687 a decade after enrolling, 74% above this list's average, and net price runs $35,924 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
San Jose State University lands at #4 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (71/100). Graduates earn a median $78,988 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,760 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Santa Clara University lands at #5 with a 80/100 composite, led by academic quality (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (35/100). Graduates earn a median $109,183 a decade after enrolling, 37% above this list's average, and net price runs $50,062 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
University of Southern California lands at #6 with a 79/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $92,498 a decade after enrolling, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $32,740 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
San Luis Obispo, CA · 31% accepted · $16,665 net
Why it ranks #7
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo lands at #7 with a 77/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $90,768 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,665 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
University of California-Merced lands at #8 with a 76/100 composite, led by academic quality (79/100) and pulled down by social mobility (67/100). Graduates earn a median $64,368 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,983 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of the Pacific lands at #9 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $78,445 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,447 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
University of California-Berkeley lands at #10 with a 76/100 composite, led by academic quality (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (64/100). Graduates earn a median $92,446 a decade after enrolling, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,481 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
University of California-San Diego lands at #11 with a 75/100 composite, led by academic quality (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (66/100). Graduates earn a median $84,943 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,470 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
University of San Diego lands at #12 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $86,522 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $30,365 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
San Diego State University lands at #13 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $64,909 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,364 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Pomona, CA · 75% accepted · $11,531 net
Why it ranks #14
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona lands at #14 with a 74/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (75/100) and pulled down by social mobility (66/100). Graduates earn a median $71,902 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,531 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
University of California-Irvine lands at #15 with a 74/100 composite, led by academic quality (89/100) and pulled down by social mobility (66/100). Graduates earn a median $80,735 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,251 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
San Francisco State University lands at #16 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (66/100). Graduates earn a median $68,077 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,278 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Cal Poly Maritime Academy lands at #17 with a 73/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $94,784 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,555 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
University of California-Davis lands at #18 with a 73/100 composite, led by academic quality (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (63/100). Graduates earn a median $80,838 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,741 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Los Angeles, CA · 9% accepted · $12,548 net
Why it ranks #19
University of California-Los Angeles lands at #19 with a 72/100 composite, led by academic quality (91/100) and pulled down by social mobility (61/100). Graduates earn a median $82,511 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,548 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
University of California-Riverside lands at #20 with a 69/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by social mobility (66/100). Graduates earn a median $67,699 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,304 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Long Beach, CA · 46% accepted · $10,440 net
Why it ranks #21
California State University-Long Beach lands at #21 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by social mobility (66/100). Graduates earn a median $64,403 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,440 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Santa Barbara, CA · 33% accepted · $16,109 net
Why it ranks #22
University of California-Santa Barbara lands at #22 with a 69/100 composite, led by academic quality (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (62/100). Graduates earn a median $74,915 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,109 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Loyola Marymount University lands at #23 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (32/100). Graduates earn a median $78,349 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $48,381 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Biola University lands at #24 with a 68/100 composite, led by academic quality (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Graduates earn a median $56,778 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $31,495 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
California State University-Fullerton lands at #25 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (64/100). Graduates earn a median $62,951 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,555 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
University of California-Santa Cruz lands at #26 with a 67/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by social mobility (62/100). Graduates earn a median $68,396 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,890 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
California Baptist University lands at #27 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $61,504 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,285 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Sacramento, CA · 94% accepted · $9,338 net
Why it ranks #28
California State University-Sacramento lands at #28 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by social mobility (61/100). Graduates earn a median $64,876 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,338 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Northridge, CA · 93% accepted · $7,021 net
Why it ranks #29
California State University-Northridge lands at #29 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $59,115 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,021 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Los Angeles, CA · 91% accepted · $3,967 net
Why it ranks #30
California State University-Los Angeles lands at #30 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $59,211 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,967 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
California State University-Chico lands at #31 with a 64/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (72/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $64,172 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,480 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
California State University-Fresno lands at #32 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by social mobility (54/100). Graduates earn a median $61,244 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,000 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Clovis Community College lands at #33 with a 60/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Net price runs $4,590 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 33 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Mechanical Engineers and related roles — a field with $99,510 median pay and 10% projected growth.
See the Mechanical Engineer career guide →Engineering programs in California are known for their strong outcomes and rigorous academics. With a range of schools to choose from, students and families are often evaluating where to invest their time and resources when pursuing an engineering degree. For context, the average earnings for engineering graduates in California are around $79,511.
What sets the top engineering colleges apart from the rest is their ability to deliver strong graduate outcomes. Metrics such as earnings, graduation rates, and student debt load play a critical role in this evaluation. As you explore the list below, keep in mind that higher earnings and lower debt often indicate solid return on investment for students.
Take Stanford University and California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, for example. Stanford boasts impressive earnings of $124,080 and a graduation rate of 92%, while Cal Poly has earnings of $90,768 and an 86% graduation rate. This contrast highlights how a higher net price can correlate with greater potential earnings, prompting students to weigh costs against future financial benefits.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 14 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 3.1%. San Jose State University leads the group at 5.4%, with University of the Pacific (4.3%) and University of Southern California (3.9%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 8% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Clovis Community College leads at 24.7%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 46.5% across this list. Harvey Mudd College posts the highest success rate at 74.4%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.73 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Santa Clara University reaches 1.89, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When comparing Stanford University and California Institute of Technology, we see a significant difference in earnings potential. Stanford graduates earn an average of $124,080, while Caltech graduates earn slightly more at $128,566, but with a higher net price of $16,075. This pattern shows that while both schools lead in earnings, the cost of attendance is a critical factor that can affect overall return on investment.
After reviewing the data, consider your own priorities. Think about what matters most to you: location, financial aid options, program strengths, or campus culture. For instance, if minimizing debt is crucial, you might lean toward schools with lower net prices like UC Berkeley, which has a net cost of $13,481 and solid earnings potential.
The journey from college to a stable career is shaped by choices made today. A family might choose a school based on its strong engineering outcomes, but they must also consider the financial implications. Choosing wisely can lead to a fulfilling career and a manageable financial future, making it essential to evaluate all aspects of each program carefully.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Engineering Colleges in California: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Engineering Colleges in California ranking? +
Stanford University in Stanford, CA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Engineering Colleges in California ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $124,080 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 92% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Harvey Mudd College posts the highest median earnings on this list: $138,687 ten years after enrollment, well above the $79,902 average across the 32 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, California State University-Los Angeles leads: graduates earn a median $59,211 against net price of about $3,967 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
California Institute of Technology has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 94%, compared with a 74% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $17,936 a year across the 33 ranked schools with cost data. California State University-Los Angeles is among the most affordable at roughly $3,967. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Engineering Colleges in California ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 33 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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