Mechanical Engineering bachelor's degree programs in California

Compare 27 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

27Programs reporting earnings

$99,216Median year-4 earnings

$19,040Median federal debt

26Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in California

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Cal Poly Maritime AcademyVallejo · $19,690 federal debt$126,395 2Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara · $19,500 federal debt$122,111 3University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley · $13,200 federal debt$119,371 4Stanford UniversityStanford · Debt not reported$117,072 5University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles · $17,000 federal debt$108,875 6California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo · $20,500 federal debt$106,750 7California Baptist UniversityRiverside · $27,000 federal debt$105,046 8University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles · $17,500 federal debt$104,649 9University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara · $15,908 federal debt$104,336 10University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla · $20,000 federal debt$104,229

CAREER CONTEXT IN CA

What related occupations pay in California

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

11-9041Architectural and Engineering Managers

State median wage: $210,280
Middle 50% wage range: $169,140–$251,890
State employment: 29,630
Projected growth: +5.5%
Annual openings: 14,900

10th–90th percentile: $137,900–$296,130

17-2011Aerospace Engineers

State median wage: $157,620
Middle 50% wage range: $129,010–$193,060
State employment: 9,170
Projected growth: +8.3%
Annual openings: 3,800

10th–90th percentile: $104,370–$220,670

25-1032Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

State median wage: $137,280
Middle 50% wage range: $104,920–$189,630
State employment: 2,720
Projected growth: +7.8%
Annual openings: 3,900

10th–90th percentile: $80,660–$294,260

17-2141Mechanical Engineers

State median wage: $130,900
Middle 50% wage range: $102,360–$166,580
State employment: 30,530
Projected growth: +11.2%
Annual openings: 17,800

10th–90th percentile: $82,070–$203,620

13-1051Cost Estimators

State median wage: $85,460
Middle 50% wage range: $65,690–$118,060
State employment: 26,020
Projected growth: -3.1%
Annual openings: 17,600

10th–90th percentile: $51,750–$150,790

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in California; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#	College	City	Median year-4 earnings	Median federal debt
1	Cal Poly Maritime Academy	Vallejo	$126,395	$19,690
2	Santa Clara University	Santa Clara	$122,111	$19,500
3	University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley	$119,371	$13,200
4	Stanford University	Stanford	$117,072	Not available
5	University of California, Los Angeles	Los Angeles	$108,875	$17,000
6	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo	$106,750	$20,500
7	California Baptist University	Riverside	$105,046	$27,000
8	University of Southern California	Los Angeles	$104,649	$17,500
9	University of California, Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara	$104,336	$15,908
10	University of California, San Diego	La Jolla	$104,229	$20,000
11	University of California, Davis	Davis	$102,161	$15,000
12	San Francisco State University	San Francisco	$102,104	$22,047
13	University of the Pacific	Stockton	$99,573	$28,596
14	California State University, Northridge	Northridge	$99,216	$18,000
15	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	Pomona	$99,148	$17,455
16	University of California, Irvine	Irvine	$99,111	$14,500
17	San Diego State University	San Diego	$97,825	$19,994
18	Loyola Marymount University	Los Angeles	$96,226	$21,000
19	California State University, Long Beach	Long Beach	$95,957	$17,653
20	University of California, Merced	Merced	$95,040	$18,500
21	California State University, Sacramento	Sacramento	$93,878	$19,399
22	University of California, Riverside	Riverside	$93,721	$21,000
23	California State University, Chico	Chico	$93,555	$24,354
24	California State University, Los Angeles	Los Angeles	$93,028	$13,000
25	University of San Diego	San Diego	$91,848	$26,093
26	California State University, Fresno	Fresno	$88,002	$17,533
27	California State University, Fullerton	Fullerton	$86,808	$19,040

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Mechanical Engineering in California

What do Mechanical Engineering bachelor's degree graduates earn in California?

Across 27 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $99,216 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $19,040 among the 26 programs reporting federal debt.

Which California colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Cal Poly Maritime Academy has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.