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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering in California

27 Ranked Colleges
7,805 Degrees Awarded
$25,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master's in California

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 Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking.

With 200,458 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, engineering is the 6th most popular major in the United States. 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” ranking looked at 27 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California” list to help you make the college decision.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering in California

#1

University of California - San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Francisco. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSF, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Francisco are $28,092, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at University of California - San Francisco

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Diego. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 686 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also took the #8 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 UCSD are $28,631.

Read full report on Engineering at University of California - San Diego

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Los Angeles

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #4 spot on the list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 842 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Engineering at University of California - Berkeley

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school handed out 161 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $21,009, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

#6

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 962 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at San Jose State

#9 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 257 students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Engineering at University of California - Irvine

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 186 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 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 UC Davis are $28,700.

Full UC Davis Engineering Report

#9

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#12 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 87 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670.

Read more about Engineering at UCSB

#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Fresno is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at California State University - Fresno

#20 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 111 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #20 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 California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Full CSULB Engineering Report

#12

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California
#4 in overall quality

Santa Clara University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #12. SCU is located in Santa Clara, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 319 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

SCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Santa Clara University are $23,507, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Engineering at Santa Clara University

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 81 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #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 CSUN are $17,955.

Read full report on Engineering at California State University - Northridge

#14

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#16 in overall quality

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #14. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 92 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SDSU Engineering Report

#18 in overall quality

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #15. Cal Poly Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 70 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal Poly Pomona Engineering Report

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 261 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal State Fullerton Engineering Report

#17

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#14 in overall quality

Loyola Marymount University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. Loyola Marymount is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 48 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree engineering students list, Loyola Marymount has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount University are $19,756, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Loyola Marymount Engineering Report

#18

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 130 students 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Riverside Engineering Report

#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

Sac State also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Engineering at Sac State

#20

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#15 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 50 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Read full report on Engineering at University of California - Santa Cruz

#25 in overall quality

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 60 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Engineering Report

#22

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944.

Read more about Engineering at San Francisco State University

With a ranking of #23, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. UC Merced is located in Merced, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Merced are $43,854, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Merced Engineering Report

#24

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California list. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,328 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #2 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 USC are $48,715.

Full USC Engineering Report

#25

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
#19 in overall quality

University of the Pacific landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. University of the Pacific is located in Stockton, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific are $49,374, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at University of the Pacific

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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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