Stanford University is located in north-central California between San Francisco and San Jose. It was ranked as the No. 2 engineering school in the United States by U.S. News & World Report in 2011. Although students don't have to declare a major during the first two years of study, Stanford offers specializations in chemical; civil and environmental; computer science; and electrical engineering. The university is renowned for high standards of academic excellence, and provides engineering students with a broad general education in addition to engineering specialties. There are also plenty of opportunities for research and study-abroad.
The University of California is part of the state's public college education system. The Berkeley engineering campus, located near Oakland, California, is an internationally recognized institution. It was ranked as the No. 3 engineering school by U.S. News & World Report in 2011. The school's alumni have helped to create magnificent structures, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam. They've also been the key engineers in developing electronics that continue to expand the Internet revolution and modern computing. UC Berkeley offers specializations in nearly every type of engineering, but its most popular programs are electrical engineering, computer science and mechanical engineering.
Harvey Mudd is a private institution, and is part of the Claremont College system in Claremont, California. Its top-notch engineering program also includes a strong focus on the sciences and humanities; so that trained engineers enter the workforce with an expansive understanding of their chosen career's impact on diverse industries. Harvey Mudd College's Engineering Clinic Program provides invaluable real-world experience by encouraging junior and senior students to participate in problem-solving and innovation for public and private corporations and government entities.
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is located in San Luis Obispo, California on the central coast. This public college is consistently ranked highly for its diverse engineering degree offerings, including electrical, computer, mechanical, civil, aerospace and environmental engineering. This institution prides itself on its hands-on approach to learning, offering undergraduate students opportunities for practical research. In February 2011, Cal Poly advertises the starting salary of recent engineering graduates at $60,000 per year, which is higher than all the other majors that the school offers.
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a private science and technology college located in Pasadena, California. It was ranked as the No. 4 engineering school by U.S. News & World Report in 2011. The school's mission includes training engineering researchers capable of solving some of the world's most complex engineering problems. Caltech alumni have received 32 Nobel Prize awards, and the college is also home to NASA's famous Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The school seeks engineering candidates interested in research-based learning.