2023 Most Popular Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California
30
Ranked Colleges
5,137
Degrees Awarded
$33,700
Avg Cost*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended ME Major in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 46,178 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $69,007 and had an average of $23,944 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 5,137 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $73,918 and $19,735 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended ME Major in California” ranking looked at 30 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular mechanical engineering programs in the United States.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended ME Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Most Well Attended ME Major in California
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended ME Major in California”.
Top 25 Most Popular Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in California. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 379 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UCSD Mechanical Engineering Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. University of California - Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 359 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UC Irvine
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 321 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Mechanical Engineering Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 320 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Berkeley
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in California. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 274 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 93%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Davis
Stanford University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. Stanford is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 253 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University
University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 252 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UCLA Mechanical Engineering Report
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school handed out 247 diplomas to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona
San Diego State University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 243 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 SDSU Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #10, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. California State University - Northridge is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 234 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full CSUN Mechanical Engineering Report
California State University - Sacramento landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking. California State University - Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 229 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Sac State
With a ranking of #12, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 217 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full University of Southern California Mechanical Engineering Report
California State University - Fullerton ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 211 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 89%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at California State University - Fullerton
San Jose State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking. San Jose State is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 209 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
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 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%.
Full San Jose State University Mechanical Engineering Report
California State University - Long Beach came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 194 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at CSULB
California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 173 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Full California State University - Los Angeles Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #17, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. Merced, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 171 students in 2020-2021.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Merced Mechanical Engineering Report
University of California - Riverside came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 144 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UCR
With a ranking of #19, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. San Francisco State University is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 102 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at SFSU
With a ranking of #20, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 93 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
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 1.8% 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 Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Santa Barbara
With a ranking of #21, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 72 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Chico Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #22, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full California State University - Fresno Mechanical Engineering Report
Santa Clara University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking. SCU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Santa Clara, California. It awarded 71 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Mechanical Engineering at SCU
Loyola Marymount University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in California list. Loyola Marymount is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 61 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Loyola Marymount University
University of San Diego landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in California ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 60 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at USD
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