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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best General Materials Engineering Schools in California

9 Colleges in the United States
445 General Materials Engineering Degrees Awarded
$86,965 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Materials Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for general materials engineering students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Materials Engineering in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general materials engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Materials Engineering

1
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general materials engineering. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 74 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. More information about a degree in general materials engineering from Stanford University

2

University Of California San Diego came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California San Diego awarded about 52 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $60,797. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree. Read more about the general materials engineering program at University Of California San Diego

3

University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general materials engineering, ranking #3. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625. Get the full general materials engineering details for University Of Southern California

4

A rank of #4 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the top schools for general materials engineering. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 59 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $74,496 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000. Get the full general materials engineering details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

5

Students looking for a strong general materials engineering program will find one at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 88 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $98,154. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097. Get the full general materials engineering details for University Of California Los Angeles

6

California Institute Of Technology earned the #6 position for general materials engineering this year. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 20 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. General Materials Engineering graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers. Get the full general materials engineering details for California Institute Of Technology

7

San Jose State University placed #7 among the best general materials engineering schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 19 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full general materials engineering details for San Jose State University

8

University Of California Irvine placed #8 among the best general materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $58,177 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,987. More information about a degree in general materials engineering from University Of California Irvine

9

University Of California Davis landed the #9 spot for general materials engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 30 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $74,110. Typical student debt for the program is $18,777. More information about a degree in general materials engineering from University Of California Davis

10

University Of California Riverside earned the #10 position for general materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Riverside in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $111,998 in their early career. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Get the full general materials engineering details for University Of California Riverside

11

University Of California Merced earned the #11 position for general materials engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 18 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Merced in the most recent year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $42,071 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,318 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general materials engineering from University Of California Merced

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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