2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid
33
Ranked Colleges
25,212
Degrees Awarded
$13,800
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.
With 198,468 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, engineering is the 7th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $68,653 and had an average of $23,855 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 25,212 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,831 and $20,014 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 33 colleges that offered a degree in engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great 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 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 Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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.
Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for california engineering students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Engineering in California (With Aid)
Out of the 33 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid 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 1,121 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Stanford is $12,894 for California Engineering students with aid.
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 0.5% 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%. 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 Engineering at Stanford
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 Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,342 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Los Angeles is $15,023 for california engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Los Angeles
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 387 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,302 for california engineering students with aid per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.
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 Cal State LA Engineering Report
Out of the 33 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 2,047 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,240 for California Engineering students with aid per year to attend University of California - San Diego.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - San Diego
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 1,982 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $16,032 for california engineering students with aid per year to attend University of California - Berkeley.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Full University of California - Berkeley Engineering Report
University of California - Davis came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 1,248 students in 2020-2021.
UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,768 for california engineering students with aid per year to attend University of California - Davis.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UC Davis Engineering Report
University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,418 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,209 for california engineering students with aid per year to attend University of California - Irvine.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Irvine
California State University - Fullerton came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 611 students in 2020-2021.
Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fullerton is $8,003 for California Engineering students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, 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 89%.
Full Cal State Fullerton Engineering Report
California State University - Long Beach ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 786 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list. It costs about $10,054 for California Engineering students with aid per year to attend CSULB.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Engineering at California State University - Long Beach
California State University - Fresno came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 226 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,230 for california engineering students with aid per year to attend California State University - Fresno.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Engineering at Fresno State
California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 539 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUN also made our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $8,523 for california engineering students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.
Full California State University - Northridge Engineering Report
San Jose State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 1,943 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $16,542 for California Engineering students with aid per year to attend San Jose State University.
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%.
Read more about Engineering at San Jose State University
California State University - Sacramento came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 597 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for California Engineering students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Read full report on Engineering at Sac State
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school handed out 1,089 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california engineering students with aid list, Cal Poly Pomona has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $14,304 for California Engineering students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, 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 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
San Diego State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 777 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
SDSU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Diego State University is $13,845 for california engineering students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read full report on Engineering at San Diego State University
University of California - Riverside ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCR is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 691 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR also took the #17 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCR is $11,822 for california engineering students with aid.
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 Engineering at University of California - Riverside
With a ranking of #17, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 366 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $16,252 for california engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UCSB Engineering Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a large public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 1,403 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california engineering students with aid list, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $20,677 for California Engineering students with aid.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Engineering Report
California State University - Bakersfield landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 70 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Bakersfield is $7,454 for california engineering students with aid.
Read full report on Engineering at California State University - Bakersfield
University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UC Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 221 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Cruz is $17,930 for california engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Santa Cruz
University of California - Merced came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Merced, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 468 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
UC Merced not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list. It costs about $13,691 for California Engineering students with aid per year to attend UC Merced.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 86%.
Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Merced
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 230 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california engineering students with aid list, Chico State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $16,218 for California Engineering students with aid per year to attend Chico State.
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%.
Read full report on Engineering at California State University - Chico
San Francisco State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 286 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend SFSU is $14,459 for california engineering students with aid.
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 more about Engineering at San Francisco State University
Humboldt State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,956 for california engineering students with aid per year to attend Humboldt State University.
Read full report on Engineering at Humboldt State University
With a ranking of #25, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 1,815 students in 2020-2021.
USC also made our “Best Engineering Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of Southern California is $32,569 for california engineering students with aid.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 USC Engineering Report
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