Best Mechanical Engineering colleges in California 2023

Best Mechanical Engineering colleges in California for 2023

Stanford University
Stanford, CA
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Established in 1891, Stanford is a private research school in California. The school serves about 17,300 students and offers BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, and Biochemical Engineering. Graduate learners can pursue a general MS in Mechanical Engineering or follow a specialized track in biochemical engineering, design impact, or an individually designed, customized master’s degree.

A top-notch faculty, nationally ranked programs, some 65 state-of-the art university centers and labs, along with intelligent and supportive classmates – what else could an engineering major want from a school? Well, how about a pristine campus located in sunny California in the heart of Silicon Valley where opportunities for internships, learning experiences, and employment abound? Stanford’s School of Engineering has been at the forefront of innovation for nearly a century -- engineering faculty and graduates have founded an estimated 12,700 companies over the decades -- and shows no signs of slowing down. Engineering is one of the university’s most popular majors, and roughly 1,600 undergraduates and 3,200 graduate students seek degrees through the school’s nine academic departments. The mechanical engineering department centers itself around five themes: biomedicine, computational engineering, design, energy, and multi-scale engineering. Curiosity-driven research that crosses disciplines or even schools is encouraged, as seen by the School of Engineering’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, which brings together students and faculty in engineering, business, education, medicine, and the humanities to learn design thinking and work together to solve big problems in a human-centered way. Think outside the boundaries, and you may be on your way to being Stanford’s next successful alum!

UC Berkeley is a public research institution with approximately 42,400 students. Established in 1868, UC Berkeley’s mechanical engineering program features three undergraduate and two graduate degree programs. Learners can also pursue a dual BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering. While applicants for fall 2022 do not need to submit GRE scores, the mechanical engineering programs require prospective master’s students to submit three letters of recommendation that can speak to their likelihood of success in a rigorous program. 

University of Southern California offers 3 Mechanical Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 205 Mechanical Engineering students graduated with students earning 96 Bachelor's degrees, 96 Master's degrees, and 13 Doctoral degrees.

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University of California-Los Angeles offers 3 Mechanical Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 264 Mechanical Engineering students graduated with students earning 137 Bachelor's degrees, 99 Master's degrees, and 28 Doctoral degrees.

Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University offers 5 Mechanical Engineering degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 72 Mechanical Engineering students graduated with students earning 48 Bachelor's degrees, 23 Master's degrees, and 1 Doctoral degree.

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California Institute of Technology offers 4 Mechanical Engineering degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 34 Mechanical Engineering students graduated with students earning 15 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Master's degrees, and 8 Doctoral degrees.

University of California-Davis offers 3 Mechanical Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2020, 221 Mechanical Engineering students graduated with students earning 176 Bachelor's degrees, 29 Master's degrees, and 16 Doctoral degrees.

University of California-Santa Barbara offers 3 Mechanical Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2020, 103 Mechanical Engineering students graduated with students earning 88 Bachelor's degrees, 9 Master's degrees, and 6 Doctoral degrees.

University of California-San Diego offers 3 Mechanical Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 260 Mechanical Engineering students graduated with students earning 179 Bachelor's degrees, 62 Master's degrees, and 19 Doctoral degrees.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo offers 2 Mechanical Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2020, 343 Mechanical Engineering students graduated with students earning 308 Bachelor's degrees, and 35 Master's degrees.

List of all Mechanical Engineering colleges in California

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
Stanford University Logo Stanford University Stanford, CA
5/5
11 : 1 15,953
University of California-Berkeley Logo University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA
3/5
23 : 1 42,327
University of Southern California Logo University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
5/5
22 : 1 46,287
University of California-Los Angeles Logo University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
3/5
21 : 1 44,589
Santa Clara University Logo Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA
5/5
15 : 1 8,616