Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) serves educationally disadvantaged students in California from elementary through university levels. Its goal is to assist students to excel in math and science and graduate from college in math-based majors. In 1996-97 MESA served over 20,300 students at pre-college, community college and university levels.

MESA services include academic advising, group study, test preparation, parent involvement, study centers, orientation classes, industry field trips and role models, career exploration, and visits to university sites. Founded in 1970, MESA is one of the nation's oldest and most successful programs of its kind.

• 90.7% of MESA high school seniors go on to attend college.
  
  
• 31% of MESA high school seniors are eligible for the University of California, a rate almost three times higher than the 11.1% eligibility rate of all California high school seniors. MESA seniors from underrepresented groups are eligible for the University of California at a rate ten times higher than their non-MESA counterparts.
  
  
• 60% of MESA high school seniors go on in college to major in math- or science-based fields.
  
  
• California MESA is the model for similar programs in over half a dozen other states.