Best master's in mechanical engineering in California

Mechanical Engineering master’s graduates in California earn a weighted average salary of $97,037 3 years after graduation, placing them in the top 10% nationally.

Our mechanical engineering graduate rankings cover 12 of the 23 programs available in California, accounting for 79% of total student graduates. We only include schools with sufficient earnings and/or debt data.

Cost of living is not considered when comparing states.

Interested in how we rank schools? Review our ranking methodology.

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23 Results (Showing 20 of 23)

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  • Mechanical Engineering
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Earnings
Debt
Rankings
Ranking methodology
#1 in California | #12 in Mechanical Engineering nationally
Economic score 0.23

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $83,310

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.2

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $16,637

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#2 in California | #14 in Mechanical Engineering nationally
Economic score 0.24

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $99,835

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $25,192

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#3 in California | #22 in Mechanical Engineering nationally
Economic score 0.27

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $103,738

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $30,705

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#4 in California | #28 in Mechanical Engineering nationally
Economic score 0.30

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $95,654

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $29,281

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#5 in California | #30 in Mechanical Engineering nationally
Economic score 0.31

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $94,032

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $28,642

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#6 in California | #37 in Mechanical Engineering nationally

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California

Economic score 0.35

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $96,312

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $34,391

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#7 in California | #38 in Mechanical Engineering nationally
Economic score 0.35

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $86,129

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $26,502

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#8 in California | #39 in Mechanical Engineering nationally
Economic score 0.35

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $94,408

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $32,854

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#9 in California | #41 in Mechanical Engineering nationally

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Economic score 0.36

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $126,185

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $57,199

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#10 in California | #51 in Mechanical Engineering nationally
Economic score 0.40

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $87,102

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $32,083

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#11 in California | #61 in Mechanical Engineering nationally
Economic score 0.53

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $78,343

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $33,853

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#12 in California | #63 in Mechanical Engineering nationally

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

Economic score 0.58

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $98,016

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $54,175

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

Economic score N/A

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $83,637

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings N/A

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt N/A

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

Economic score N/A

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $82,756

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings N/A

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt N/A

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

Economic score N/A

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $70,009

Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings N/A

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt N/A

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

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How long does it take to pay down debt in mechanical engineering in California?

Years

Under 6 months

The average debt accrued from a master's degree in mechanical engineering is covered by average graduate earnings in under 6 months.

How much do graduates with a master's degree in mechanical engineering earn in California?

Salary

$97,037

The median master's degree in mechanical engineering graduate earns $97,037 3 years after graduating.

How much does a master's degree in mechanical engineering cost in California?

Net cost

$17,586

The average annual cost of a master's degree in mechanical engineering is $17,586. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.

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