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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Materials Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in California

11 Ranked Colleges
497 Degrees Awarded
$9,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 3,415 people earned their degree in general materials engineering, making the major the 199th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 497 general materials engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree in general materials engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general materials engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general materials engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for General Materials Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in California

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 73 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $1,233 for California Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Stanford.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Stanford University General Materials Engineering Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 76 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $9,037 for california materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at UCLA

3

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 72 degrees to qualified ’s materials processing and manufacturing students in 2020-2021.

UCSD also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,823 for California Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCSD.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Materials Engineering at University of California - San Diego

4

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 59 degrees to qualified ’s materials processing and manufacturing students in 2020-2021.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” list. It costs about $6,540 for california materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC Irvine.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at University of California - Irvine

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 53 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC Davis is $10,006 for california materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of California - Davis General Materials Engineering Report

6
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #6, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 34 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” list. It costs about $17,287 for california materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at USC

7

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 41 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $12,173 for California Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Materials Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

8

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s materials processing and manufacturing students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california materials processing and manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k list, CSUN has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $6,266 for California Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at CSUN

9
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

San Jose State also made our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State University is $12,158 for California Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full San Jose State General Materials Engineering Report

10

University of California - Riverside came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 22 ’s materials processing and manufacturing degrees in 2020-2021.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” list. It costs about $6,810 for California Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCR.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UCR General Materials Engineering Report

11

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Processing and Manufacturing Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Merced also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,363 for California Materials Processing and Manufacturing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - Merced.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Materials Engineering at University of California - Merced

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