2023 best colleges in California

Take one part Massachussets' superior private universities and another part New York's excellent public college and university network, mix it in a beaker, and you got yourself California. Two networks of public universities - California State and University of California - offer the most affordable and convenient access to public education in the west (and arguably the country). While California State universities tend to be more vocationally driven, University of California unis - with crown jewels Berkeley, UCLA, and USC - are more research driven with more robust graduate offerings. And of course, Stanford is one of the country's top private universities.

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Ranking methodology
#1 in California | #8 in Education nationally
Economic score: 1.49

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $3,302

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 1.6 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $35,137

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $2,582

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 91%
Graduation rate: 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#2 in California | #14 in Education nationally
Economic score: 2.13

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $6,566

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 2.5 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $37,692

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $5,149

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 95%
Graduation rate: 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#3 in California | #20 in Education nationally

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

Economic score: 2.40

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $14,459

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 3.3 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $45,091

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $12,450

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 93%
Graduation rate: 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#4 in California | #54 in Education nationally
Economic score: 3.35

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $4,026

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 3.2 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $30,864

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $1,667

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 90%
Graduation rate: 67%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#5 in California | #77 in Education nationally

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California

Economic score: 3.76

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $28,380

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 5.5 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $48,100

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $15,064

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 79%
Graduation rate: 75%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#6 in California | #201 in Education nationally

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, California

Economic score: 5.32

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $19,029

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 6.6 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $36,806

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $7,106

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 78%
Graduation rate: 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#7 in California | #272 in Education nationally
Economic score: 6.16

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $20,677

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 7.1 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $38,574

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $4,971

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 33%
Graduation rate: 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#8 in California | #342 in Education nationally
Economic score: 7.06

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $27,866

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 7.9 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $39,393

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $4,083

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 93%
Graduation rate: 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#9 in California | #357 in Education nationally

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

Economic score: 7.35

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $13,845

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 7.4 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $33,452

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $116

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 38%
Graduation rate: 80%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#10 in California | #456 in Education nationally

Biola University

La Mirada, California

Economic score: 10.55

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $33,269

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 11.6 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $37,436

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $3,278

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 61%
Graduation rate: 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#11 in California | #477 in Education nationally

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

Economic score: 12.15

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $26,719

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 13.7 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $33,745

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $3,842

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 64%
Graduation rate: 67%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#12 in California | #479 in Education nationally

William Jessup University

Rocklin, California

Economic score: 12.21

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $25,268

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 12.2 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $33,622

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $9

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 78%
Graduation rate: 72%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#13 in California | #513 in Education nationally
Economic score: 17.10

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $13,218

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 15.3 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $29,138

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $3,449

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 93%
Graduation rate: 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#14 in California | #514 in Education nationally
Economic score: 17.36

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $12,075

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 16.6 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $27,991

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $1,230

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: N/A
Graduation rate: 60%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#15 in California | #518 in Education nationally
Economic score: 18.37

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $6,230

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 15.1 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $26,873

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $5,723

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 97%
Graduation rate: 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

Ashford University

San Diego, California

Economic score: 43.77

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

View school
Net cost: $20,987

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 34.5 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $27,575

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $7,400

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: N/A
Graduation rate: 21%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

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How long does it take me to repay a bachelor's degree in education-grades & methods in California?

Years

8.9 years

The cost of the average bachelor's degree in education-grades & methods in California is covered by the new earnings of graduates in 8.9 years.

How much do graduates with bachelor's degree in education-grades & methods earn in California?

Salary

$32,508

The median bachelor's degree in education-grades & methods graduate earns $32,508 3 years after graduating.

How much does a bachelor's degree in education-grades & methods cost in California?

Net cost

$13,436

The average annual cost of a bachelor's degree in education-grades & methods is $13,436. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.