2026 Best Computer Hardware Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region

Computer Hardware Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for computer hardware engineering students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Computer Hardware Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region

Best Schools for Computer Hardware Engineering in the Far Western Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall computer hardware engineering education in the Far Western Region.

Top Schools in Computer Hardware Engineering

1

University Of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

17 Computer Hardware Engineering Degrees Awarded

$96,256 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked University Of California San Diego the best school in the country for a degree in computer hardware engineering. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 17 computer hardware engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer hardware engineering program make about $96,256 in their early career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $18,497 in student loans. See the full computer hardware engineering program report for University Of California San Diego

2

Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

43 Computer Hardware Engineering Degrees Awarded

$128,924 Median Starting Salary

Santa Clara University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in computer hardware engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 43 computer hardware engineering students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer hardware engineering degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $128,924. Typical student debt for the program is $24,666. More information about a degree in computer hardware engineering from Santa Clara University

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 4 schools evaluated.

• 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.