Best Engineering-Related Fields Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
2
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$1,372,381
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$51,239
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Stanford University
Grad rate: 94.0% |
+$1,780,356 | $139,234 | $82,162 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$964,406 | $92,252 | $20,317 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Engineering-Related Fields Degrees by State
Browse Engineering-Related Fields programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.