Basically, the electrical engineering field is vast and one of the most popular engineering majors. It covers the design, construction, and operation of every kind of electrical component, circuit, and system. On the other hand, the USA is one of the top study destinations for students in this field with California being the 1st most popular state for students studying this major. In fact, according to Collegefactual, 4,847 of the 31,993 Electrical Engineering diplomas earned last year in the USA were given by colleges in California. This, in turn, shows that there are several schools offering electrical engineering programs in California. So, to make it easier for you to select a school among them, we’ve ranked as well as gathered vital information on the top schools where you can get the best accredited electrical engineering programs in California. In this article, you will also get to know what electrical engineers are paid in California, the cost of earning an electrical engineering degree and how long it takes to earn one. Before going into the schools, let’s get an overview of what electrical engineering is.
What Is Electrical Engineering?
Electrical engineering is basically the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It is a branch of engineering deals with the heavy current that is electric light and power systems alongside apparatuses. Electrical Engineering is also the study and application of physics and mathematics to the flow of electrons to generate electromagnetism in a system in other to process information and transmit energy. In fact, the field is so vast that it had to be broken down to branches. The various branches of Electrical engineering includes but not limited to:
Why Study Electrical Engineering In California?
Electrical Engineering is one of the most popular majors in the Engineering field and California happens to be the most popular state for students studying this major. One major reason why California schools should top your electrical engineering school choice is that Silicon Valley – home to many start-up and global technology companies – is located in California. This, in turn, means that most schools in California get support and collaborations from most companies at Silicon Valley. Being a techy state, students in the engineering and technology field are at an advantage. In addition, California is home to some of the top US schools. that is to say, most schools in California provide their students with top education quality. Yet to make up your mind? See these 10 Good Reasons to Study Electrical Engineering
What Are Electrical Engineers Paid In California?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage of Electrical Engineers in California is $117,070.
How Long Does It Take To Complete An Electrical Engineering Degree Program in California?
The duration for electrical engineering programs varies among levels, modes of study (part-time or full-time), and schools in California. Basically, it takes about 4-5 years to complete a bachelor’s degree program in electrical engineering. On the other hand, it takes about 2 years to complete a master’s degree program in electrical engineering. Meanwhile it about 4 years to complete a PhD or doctorate degree program in electrical engineering.
How Much Does It Cost To Earn An Electrical Engineering Degree Program in California?
Basically, the tuition cost for electrical engineering programs varies among the degree programs and schools. Also, since there are so many engineering schools in California, there is a wide range of tuition costs. So, as an intending student, it is advisable that you visit the website of your preferred school to know their current cost. However, for estimation’s sake, the average cost of tuition for California residents is $3000 while for non-residents, the average cost of tuition is $7500. Bear in mind the above cost is just an estimation of tuition and not the other fees for attendance. When other costs are included, the total cost for an electrical engineering program ranges from $14,00 to $60,000 in California. With the former lower amount being for in-state students and the higher range for out-of-state students.
Which Body Accredits Electrical Engineering Degree Programs In California?
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) recognizes and accredits electrical engineering programs in California, USA. In fact, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes ABET as the main accrediting body in the country for the fields of applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.
Which Schools Offer The Best Accredited Electrical Engineering Programs in California?
Various schools in California offer electrical engineering programs both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. However for the purpose of this article, emphasis will be laid on 10 of them. So, to effectively rank these 10 schools, we used some factors. With the ABET accreditation of the electrical engineering program being constant, here are the ranking factors. Here are the best accredited electrical engineering programs in California:
#1 University of California – Berkeley
Founded in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley is a public research university in Berkeley, California. It is the oldest campus of the University of California system and is considered by some to be one of the system’s flagship campuses. UC Berkeley is currently the best school to earn an electrical engineering degree in California. In fact, the University of California Berkeley is ranked as #2 in the Best Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Undergraduate Program in the USA and #3 in the best graduate EE programs by USNEWS. Now, let’s get to know about the program. The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) at UC Berkeley offers one of the strongest research and instructional programs in this field anywhere in the world. One of UC Berkeley EECS’s mission is to educate future leaders in academia, government, industry, and entrepreneurial pursuits, through a rigorous curriculum of theory and applications that develops students’ abilities to solve problems individually and in teams. This is evident in the way programs are taught in the department.
Available Electrical Engineering Programs
Furthermore, UC Berkeley has a 5.5:1 students to faculty ratio.
#2 Stanford University
Founded in 1885, Stanford University is a private research university in Stanford, California. Stanford’s Electrical Engineering Program is one of the best in California , USA and the world at large. They have received some of the highest honors and awards for their research and teaching. In fact, the history of Silicon Valley traces back to the Stanford Electrical Engineering department. Stanford’s EE continues to work closely with industry, while encouraging entrepreneurial innovation. To be more precise, Stanford EE students, faculty & alumni have started an astonishing array of startup companies. Stanford’s Department of Electrical Engineering is the largest department within the School of Engineering, with 62 active faculty, and more than 1,000 PhD, MS, and BS students. Each year, approximately 300 students earn Electrical Engineering degrees. The school offers a broad and innovative set of research programs, supported by state-of-the-art research equipment and diverse classes. Here, students choose from more than 130 courses each academic year. There are also five full- or part-time graduate programs, including joint degrees, and non-degree options.
Available Accredited Electrical Engineering Programs
Furthermore, Stanford is ranked as #3 in the Best Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Undergraduate Program in the USA and #2 in the best graduate EE programs by USNEWS.
#3 California Institute of Technology
Founded in 1891, the California Institute of Technology is a private research university in Pasadena, California that focuses on science and engineering education. It offers one of the best accredited electrical engineering programs in California. Established in 1910, the Electrical Engineering (EE) Department at Caltech has an extended record of excellence and innovation. In fact, many distinguished leaders in the field over the last century received their training at Caltech. As a discipline, electrical engineering has had a disproportionate and palpable impact on the technologies that define modern-day life and society. EE at Caltech basically emphasizes both the fundamentals of physical (devices) and mathematical (systems) sides of EE, as well as acknowledging the multi-disciplinary nature of the field. With a student to faculty ratio of 3:1, Caltech’s Department of Electrical Engineering offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Available Electrical Engineering Programs
Furthermore, Caltech is ranked as #7 in the Best Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Undergraduate Program in the USA and #4 in the best doctorate EE programs by USNEWS.
#4 University of California – Los Angeles
Founded in 1882, the University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university in Los Angeles. It offers one of the best accredited electrical engineering programs in California, USA. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department is one of seven academic departments in the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science (HSSEAS). The Department is administratively divided into three research areas: Circuits & Embedded Systems, Physical & Wave Electronics, and Signals & Systems. However, much of the research is multi-disciplinary and features collaborations in various fields including medicine, physics, mathematics, and theater & film. Basically, UCLA offers electrical engineering programs at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Available Accredited Electrical Engineering Programs
Furthermore, the University of California – Los Angeles as #12 in the Best Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Undergraduate Program in the USA and #15 in the best doctorate EE programs by USNEWS.
#5 University of Southern California
Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is the oldest private research university in California. It is one of the world’s leading private research universities, located in the heart of Los Angeles. USC also offers one of the best accredited electrical engineering programs in California, USA. The Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is one of the largest departments in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Students here can receive degrees in electrical or computer engineering at the undergraduate, masters, and PhD level.
Available Electrical Engineering Programs
In recent years, USC undergraduates in engineering as a group are among the brightest in the university, as measured by their incoming GPA and SAT scores. This in turn places them in the same category as incoming undergraduates at the top five engineering schools in the US News and World Report rankings.
#6 University of California – San Diego
Founded in 1960, the University of California, San Diego is a public research university in San Diego, California. It is one of the top schools that offer the best electoral engineering programs in Calfornia. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is one of the prominent departments in the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. Since its formation, ECE has earned a world-class reputation for producing top-notch engineers for industry and academia. Its vision focuses on information and communication theory and systems, radiophysics, and quantum electronics. In fact, ECE in UC San Diego is among the leading departments of its kind in the nation, built on fundamentals of applied mathematics and engineering physics, providing multidisciplinary, systems-oriented education and research in eleven core areas. These areas include Applied Ocean Sciences, Computer Engineering, Communication Theory & Systems, Electronic Circuits & Systems, Electronic Devices & Materials, Intelligent Systems, Robotics & Control, Medical Devices & Systems, Nanoscale Devices & Systems, Photonics, Radio and Space Science, and Signal & Image Processing. As regards to electrical engineering, UC San Diego offers 3 programs in the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Available Electrical Engineering Programs
Furthermore, the University of California San Diego is ranked as #6 in the Best Electrical Engineering Programs in California by College Factual.
#7 University of California – Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading center for teaching and research located on the California coast – truly a learning and living environment like no other. It is among the top schools that offer the best electrical engineering programs in California. At UC Santa Barbara, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Basically, students here are introduced to computing methods and foundational knowledge for building and designing circuits. They are also exposed to a balance of theory and practice and are encouraged to pursue technical electives in signal processing, control systems, computer engineering, and electronics, and photonics.
Available Electrical Engineering Programs
Furthermore, the University of California Santa Barbara is ranked as #7 in the Best Electrical Engineering Programs in California, USA by College Factual and #13 in the best graduate EE programs by USNEWS.
#8 California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic is one of the 25 campuses of the California State University System, collectively the largest university in the world. The EE Department is one of seven departments within the school’s College of Engineering. It offers one of the best electrical engineering programs in California. Cal Poly Electrical Engineering is distinguished for its laboratory-intensive curriculum, faculty-student interaction, and innovative hands-on educational methods. The department offers 35,000 square feet of well-equipped undergraduate laboratory space, unparalleled among other universities. Basically, Cal Poly offers electrical engineering programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Available Electrical Engineering Programs
Furthermore, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is ranked as #9 in the Best Electrical Engineering Programs in California by College Factual.
#9 University of California – Irvine
The University of California, Irvine is a public research university in Irvine, California. It is among the top USA schools that offer the best accredited electrical engineering programs in California. At UCI, the Electrical Engineering program focuses on the fundamental aspects of the discipline such as network analysis, electronics, electronic system design, signal processing, control systems, and electromagnetics. Basically, the department seeks to provide the finest education to its students and consistently meet industry needs by developing cutting-edge technology. EECS at UCI is also committed to promoting an integrated view of the electrical engineering field. UCI offers various accredited electrical engineering programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Available Electrical Engineering Programs
Furthermore, the University of California, Irvine is ranked as #8 in the Best Electrical Engineering Programs in California by College Factual.
#10 Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university in Santa Clara. It is one of the schools that offer the best electrical engineering programs in California, USA. At SCU, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has developed a curriculum that is both practical and innovative and takes care to address the ethical and societal impacts of engineering. As a student, you will get hands-on experience in well-equipped modern laboratories and project spaces as well as through their co-op program, internship opportunities, and independent projects. The school offers various programs at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Available Electrical Engineering Programs
SCU EE graduates are highly sought-after for their technical knowledge and leadership skills here in the Valley and beyond. Furthermore, Santa Clara University is ranked as #10 in the Best Electrical Engineering Programs in California by College Factual. Electrical engineering is basically the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It is a branch of engineering deals with the heavy current that is electric light and power systems alongside apparatuses. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage of Electrical Engineers in California is $117,070. Basically, it takes about 4-5 years to complete a bachelor’s degree program in electrical engineering. It takes about 2 years to complete a master’s degree program in electrical engineering. It about 4 years to complete a PhD or doctorate degree program in electrical engineering. The average cost of tuition for California residents is $3000 while for non-residents, the average cost of tuition is $7500.When other costs are included, the total cost for an electrical engineering program ranges from $14,00 to $60,000 in California. With the former lower amount being for in-state students and the higher range for out-of-state students.
- University of California – Berkeley2. Stanford University3. California Institute of Technology4. University of California – Los Angeles5. University of Southern California6. The University of California – San Diego7. University of California – Santa Barbara8. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo9. University of California – Irvine10. Santa Clara University
Conclusion
To become an electrical engineer, you must first earn a degree in the field. With California being the most popular state for students in the field, the article above provides vital information on the best schools that offer accredited electrical engineering programs in California. I hope this article helps you in your decision making.
