2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

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 “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Engineering is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 6th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 200,458 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,888 and had an average of $23,564 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 25,440 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $67,620 and $21,114 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 7,805 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 29 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the engineering program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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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 Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 654 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.
Stanford also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Caltech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 75 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Caltech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best 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.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 842 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Engineering at University of California - Berkeley
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 448 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best 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 UCLA are $28,131.
Full University of California - Los Angeles Engineering Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, Cal State LA has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Fresno came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 42 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best 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 Fresno State are $17,581.
University of California - San Diego ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 686 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
UCSD also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631.
University of California - Irvine ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 257 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best 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 University of California - Irvine are $28,456.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Irvine
California State University - Fullerton ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 261 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #10, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 87 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSB also took the #12 spot in our “Best 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 more about Engineering at University of California - Santa Barbara
University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 130 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Riverside
University of California - Davis landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 186 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Davis also took the #10 spot in our “Best 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 - Davis are $28,700.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Davis
California State University - Long Beach ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 111 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, CSULB has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best 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.
California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. CSUN is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 81 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best 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 Engineering at California State University - Northridge
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 161 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also took the #11 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo are $21,009, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Engineering at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
San Diego State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 92 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SDSU also took the #16 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Southern California landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 1,328 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best 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.
With a ranking of #18, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 962 students in 2019-2020.
San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Sacramento came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 61 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 70 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly Pomona, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Engineering Report
University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. UC Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. San Francisco State University is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 29 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.
Chico State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of California - Merced did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. UC Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 17 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Merced are $43,854, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Sonoma State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Rohnert Park, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.
SSU also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sonoma State University are $18,890, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Petty Officer 3rd Class Declan Barnes.
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