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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Other Engineering Schools in California

5 Colleges in the United States
$15,923 Avg Student Debt
$91,628 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Other Engineering Badge [Other Engineering](/majors/engineering/other-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for other engineering students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Other Engineering Schools in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Other Engineering Schools

1

University Of California San Diego earned the #1 spot for value among other engineering schools in California. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the other engineering program here. Other Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $99,374 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.

2
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

A rank of #2 makes Stanford University one of the best values for other engineering. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $49,741. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.

3

University Of California Berkeley came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the other engineering program here. Other Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.

4

California State University Chico came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,472, while out-of-state students pay about $21,072. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the other engineering program here. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $74,204. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Chico admits about 93% of applicants.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern California earned it the #5 place for other engineering. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $15,625. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $101,781. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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