California Engineering Schools
The state of California is very devoted to engineering, as it has three of its graduate schools named in the Top Five Best Grad Schools in the U.S. according to U.S. News and World Report. Because of this the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics places California in the top five for agricultural engineers, chemical engineers and mechanical engineers, with aerospace engineers growing at the highest employment rate of 20.4 percent.
Here are some of the top companies in California that hire engineering professionals: Chevron, McKesson, Wells Fargo, Safeway, Intel, Walt Disney, Ingram Micro, Northrop Grumman, Cisco Systems, Countrywide Financial, Occidental Petroleum, Gap, DIRECTV Group, Computer Sciences, Amgen, Sun Microsystems, Health Net, Edison International, and Wal-Mart.
Engineering Programs in California
Whether a student chooses to attend one of the many state colleges or universities or one of the private ones, he or she will find a wide range of engineering degrees. Most colleges offer associate, bachelor, master or doctorate degrees, although others offer additional certificates. Some students get their associate degrees at two-year colleges, such as American River College, and transfer to the larger ones to get higher degrees.
California Institute of Technology is one of the private, not-for-profit colleges that have degrees in several of the most popular engineering fields, including chemical engineering and civil engineering. California Polytechnic State Universities are some of the best schools in the country for engineering students.
Outlook for Engineering Jobs in California
In general, California is a major job market for engineers. The state’s diverse range of industries is evident in its employment record with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Although the BLS predicts a slow to average job growth rate for engineers, some states will see an above average job growth. According to a 2012 BLS report, California has the highest employment rate for aerospace engineers, biomedical engineers, civil engineers, mining and geological engineers and others.