I’m curious whether or not there is a general consensus as to which CSU are best for engineering. I’m assuming Cal Poly SLO is at the top. Would Cal Poly Pomona be next? What about after that?
I realize that not all CSUs cover all engineering fields, so perhaps we can just consider the more common fields such as civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.
Thank for your input!
When my son toured Cal Poly Pomona, the guide claimed that CPP produced more engineering graduates each year and had a better job placement rate than CP SLO. I’m not sure of his facts, but CPP is well respected even though CP SLO has the broader reputation. I’m sure a little internet research could reveal even more interesting facts.
The CPs are the obvious answer but, the question isn’t that simple. Due to selectivity and other factors, they aren’t practical destinations for many applicants.
The BEST according to a magazine, website or some other source may be the completely wrong choice for you.
Let’s start with your qualifications, budget and other interests (you spend just a handful of hours in class most days so, what surrounds the school needs to work for you too).
I was asking for a friend of my daughter’s. He got into both CPP and SDSU for civil engineering. We’re in North SD County, so costs are likely similar since both require freshman to live on campus. SDSU also requires sophomores to live on campus. As he assesses the pros and cons of each school, I was wondering if CPP’s reputation was something to consider, or if SDSU engineering is also well regarded.
Beyond that, I was curious about other CSU engineering schools.
For Civil Engineering, you want the CSU to be ABET accredited.
You can search this website for ABET accredited Civil Engineering schools in CA. All will give you an excellent education and SLO, CPP and SDSU are all accredited.
CPP and SDSU will both give a great education. The 4 year experience outside the classroom at SDSU is IMHO better but, that’s really subjective so, you gotta visit the schools, talk to existing students to figure out which is the best fit. I know CPP has made some huge investments in the campus and student experience so, you really need to see what it is like now - not how it was 5 or 10 years ago.
All of the other ABET accredited schools will give a good and credible education in Civil Engineering. The student experience at a big commuter school like Sac, SF or Fresno is a lot different than highly residential schools like CPSLO, SDSU and Chico. One experience isn’t ‘better’ than the other - but, they are different. When selecting a school to attend, you need to consider the whole package and the student’s fit in that environment.
Thanks the input!