Established in 1970, the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program is one of the country's oldest and most successful programs to assist educationally disadvantaged and first-generation students attain degrees in math, engineering and science from four-year institutions. Part of the University of California, MESA operates four programs that provide services to students at pre-college, community college, and university levels. MESA is the model for programs established in seven other states.

The MESA Engineering Program (MEP) is an academic program that supports educationally disadvantaged and first-generation college students to attain four-year degrees in engineering or computer science. MEP welcomes all student participation; however, we strongly encourage participation of students stemming from groups with historically low participation rates in college admissions. MEP centers are located at UC, CSU and private university campuses throughout the state and serve over 5,500 students. The programs are partnerships between MESA, the host university, industry and various engineering associations.

What does MEP provide to California's economy? California faces the challenge of an increasingly competitive global market. The state's continued economic growth is dependent on the establishment of a well-educated workforce, especially one that can meet growing technological demands. MEP provides a diverse pool of job-ready and experienced applicants from among California students who can quickly adjust to corporate culture. MEP's academic development, leadership preparation, and collaborative problem-solving training result in highly skilled graduates who become valuable assets to the state's economic development

Today California MESA students comprise 90% of the state's underrepresented engineering baccalaureate recipients and over 12% of the nation's underrepresented engineering baccalaureate recipients are California MESA students.

MEP's years of success have increased opportunities for thousands of educationally disadvantaged students especially those from groups with low participation rates in math-based fields. Housed in the Davidson College of Engineering, SJSU MEP serves the following majors found in engineering:

• Aviation
• Aerospace Engineering
• Chemical and Materials Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Technology