2023 Best Computer Science Schools in California
Finding the Best Computer Science School for You
Out of the majors we analyze each year, computer science was ranked 9th in California. In fact, 13,148 were awarded in the state in 2020-2021.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Best Computer Science Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 41 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Computer Science Schools in California
The colleges and universities below are the best for compsci majors pursuing a .
Top 10 Best Computer Science Schools
Our analysis found California Institute of Technology to be the best school for computer science students who want to pursue a degree in California. Caltech is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Harvey Mudd College is a great place for computer science students. Harvey Mudd College is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont.
After completing their degree, compsci graduates from Harvey Mudd College carry an average student debtload of $21,250.
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Out of the 41 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Stanford is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford.
The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at Stanford take out is $13,645.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Pomona College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Computer Science Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
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The excellent programs at University of California - Berkeley helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best computer science schools in California. Located in the midsize city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public college with a very large student population.
CompSci majors at UC Berkeley take out an average of $14,203 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $386.
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University of California - San Diego landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best computer science programs. UCSD is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla.
On average, compsci graduates from UCSD take out $17,575 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $308, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best computer science programs. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public school with a very large student population.
CompSci majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo take out an average of $20,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $464.
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University of Southern California came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Computer Science Schools in California ranking. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.
CompSci majors at USC take out an average of $20,178 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $453.
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University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Computer Science Schools in California ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at UCSB take out is $17,338.
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University of California - Irvine ranked #10 on this year’s Best Computer Science Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at UC Irvine take out is $16,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $177.
Request InformationBest Computer Science Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Computer Science Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 1,551 |
| Oregon | 1,282 |
| Nevada | 152 |
| Hawaii | 152 |
| Alaska | 31 |
More Computer Science Rankings in California
Rankings in Majors Related to CompSci
Computer Science is one of 10 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer Information Systems | 88,434 |
| Information Technology | 40,555 |
| Information Science | 18,325 |
| Computer Systems Networking | 14,700 |
| Computer Software & Applications | 14,336 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Negative Space.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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