Degree Dividend
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Best colleges for Engineering, Other in California

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Program-level earnings — not school prestige — rank these. Among the California programs in the federal field-of-study file, Stanford University leads: its Engineering, Other graduates earn a median $115,206 four years after finishing, against the field's $93,989 national median. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026.)

California Engineering, Other programs by graduate earnings
#CollegeGrad earnings, 4 yrsVs field median
1Stanford University$115,206+$21,217
2California State University-Chico$103,272+$9,283
3University of California-San Diego$88,159-$5,830

How big is the earnings gap between California Engineering programs?

$27,047 separates the top and bottom of this list — $115,206 at Stanford University against $88,159 at University of California-San Diego, four years after finishing. Same field, same state, same federal measure: where you study moves pay by that much.

Do California Engineering graduates earn more than the national median?

The state's strongest program pays $21,217 above the $93,989 national median for the field. Program-level medians come from federal tax records of graduates who received aid, so they track actual pay rather than advertised salaries.

Frequently asked questions

Which California college is best for Engineering, Other?
By graduate earnings, Stanford University — its Engineering, Other bachelor's graduates earn a median $115,206 four years out, the highest of the 3 California programs in the federal file.
What do Engineering, Other graduates earn in California?
Across the ranked California programs, median earnings four years after completion run from $88,159 to $115,206. The field's national median is $93,989.
Is a Engineering, Other degree worth it?
On national medians, yes — Engineering, Other graduates earn $45,629/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. See the full field profile for payback math.