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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California (With Aid)

23 Ranked Colleges
985 Degrees Awarded
$27,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value ME Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 985 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great mechanical engineering programs and cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 23 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California (With Aid)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 163 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Stanford

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also took the #20 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Cal State LA

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 99 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #5 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’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 - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Mechanical Engineering Report

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #4 spot on the list. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 39 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Irvine Mechanical Engineering Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 29 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Fullerton Mechanical Engineering Report

University of California - Berkeley landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 148 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree me students with aid list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’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 University of California - Berkeley

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 34 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #15 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Long Beach

California State University - Northridge ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at CSUN

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 62 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’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 UCSD are $28,631.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UCSD

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 21 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree me students with aid list, SDSU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’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 SDSU are $18,658.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at SDSU

#11

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#14 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 15 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #14 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’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 UCR are $28,686.

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

University of California - Davis landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 29 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree me students with aid list, UC Davis has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#13

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 48 degrees to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at San Jose State

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree me students with aid list, Cal Poly Pomona has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are $18,377, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Mechanical Engineering Report

California State University - Sacramento landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Sacramento

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 35 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $21,009.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

#17

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 9 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #0 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UCSB

#18

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#4 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Caltech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at California Institute of Technology

University of California - Merced landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Merced are $43,854.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Merced

#20

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 96 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at USC

#21

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

California Baptist University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist also took the #0 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’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 California Baptist University are $14,140.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at California Baptist University

#22

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. SCU is located in Santa Clara, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

SCU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SCU are $23,507, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at SCU

#23

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#11 in overall quality

Loyola Marymount University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Loyola Marymount is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount also took the #11 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’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 Loyola Marymount University are $19,756.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Loyola Marymount University

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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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