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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in California

12 Ranked Colleges
225 Degrees Awarded
$35,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 47,598 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 20th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,495 and had an average of $23,104 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 5,259 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $66,612 and $20,850 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 225 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 12 colleges that offered a degree in mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality mechanical engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Mechanical Engineering Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 12 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 doctorate’s ME degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Stanford

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 43 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #2 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s ME degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UCLA

#4

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Caltech also took the #3 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified doctorate’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Irvine

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 doctorate’s ME degrees to qualified students.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UC Davis

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 doctorate’s ME degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Riverside

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified doctorate’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also took the #7 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of California - San Diego

#9

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Mechanical Engineering Report

#10

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#5 in overall quality

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. University of Southern California is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 13 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Southern California Mechanical Engineering Report

#12 in overall quality

University of California - Merced did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. UC Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 3 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Merced, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UC Merced

#12

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California
#7 in overall quality

Santa Clara University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Santa Clara, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k list, SCU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Santa Clara University are $23,507, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SCU Mechanical Engineering Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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