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2023 Best Schools in California

152 Schools Ranked
$43,905 Average Earnings
$18,481 Avg Student Debt

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 152 schools in California to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Schools in California

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
$83,159 Average Earnings
$13,926 Avg Student Debt

Our 2023 rankings named Stanford University the best school in California for students working on their degree.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,926 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Stanford graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $83,159 during the early year of their career.

Full Stanford University Report

#2

Keck Graduate Institute

Claremont, California
$60,610 Average Earnings
$24,498 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Keck Graduate Institute. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Schools in California list.

On average, students take out $24,498 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from KGI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,610 during the early years of their career.

Full Keck Graduate Institute Report

#3

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
$60,587 Average Earnings
$15,301 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of California - Berkeley is a great place for students.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,301 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $323.After graduating from UC Berkeley, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,587 during the early years of their career.

Full University of California - Berkeley Report

#4

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California
$67,441 Average Earnings
$19,104 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Santa Clara University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Schools in California list.

Degree recipients from SCU accumulate an average of $19,104 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $657.After graduating from SCU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $67,441 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Santa Clara University

#5

Fielding Graduate University

Santa Barbara, California
$68,179 Average Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Fielding Graduate University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Schools in California list.

Once they receive their degree, Fielding graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $68,179 during the early year of their career.

Full Fielding Graduate University Report

#6

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
$94,845 Average Earnings

California Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #6 on the list.

Once they receive their degree, Caltech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $94,845 during the early year of their career.

Read More…

$54,753 Average Earnings
$18,067 Avg Student Debt

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #7 on the list.

On average, students take out $18,067 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $377. During the early years of their career, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduates make an average of $54,753 annually.

Read full report on California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

#8

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont, California
$56,648 Average Earnings

Claremont Graduate University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Schools in California list.

During the early years of their career, Claremont Graduate University graduates make an average of $56,648 annually.

Full Claremont Graduate University Report

#9

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
$65,044 Average Earnings
$15,661 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #9, University of Southern California did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,661 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $489. Once they receive their degree, USC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $65,044 during the early year of their career.

Read full report on University of Southern California

#10

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
$53,838 Average Earnings
$16,277 Avg Student Debt

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.

On average, students take out $16,277 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $278, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UCLA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,838 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of California - Los Angeles

#11

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
$63,295 Average Earnings
$13,715 Avg Student Debt

Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #11 on the list.

Degree recipients from SRJC accumulate an average of $13,715 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from SRJC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $63,295 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

#12

Foothill College

Los Altos Hills, California
$97,367 Average Earnings
$13,949 Avg Student Debt

Foothill College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #12 on the list.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,949 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Foothill College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $97,367 during the early year of their career.

Full Foothill College Report

#13

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
$40,268 Average Earnings
$16,986 Avg Student Debt

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in California ranking.

On average, students take out $16,986 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $287, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UCSB graduates make an average of $40,268 annually.

Read More…

#14

Canada College

Redwood City, California
$92,243 Average Earnings
$13,439 Avg Student Debt

Canada College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in California ranking.

Degree recipients from Canada College accumulate an average of $13,439 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Canada College graduates make an average of $92,243 annually.

Read More…

#15

Brandman University

Irvine, California
$60,858 Average Earnings
$29,571 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #15, Brandman University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.

On average, students take out $29,571 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Brandman graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,858 during the early year of their career.

Full Brandman University Report

#16

Westmont College

Santa Barbara, California
$34,963 Average Earnings
$20,522 Avg Student Debt

Westmont College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Schools in California list.

Degree recipients from Westmont accumulate an average of $20,522 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $583. Once they receive their degree, Westmont graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,963 during the early year of their career.

Full Westmont College Report

#17

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California
$53,400 Average Earnings
$18,628 Avg Student Debt

Santa Barbara City College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Schools in California list.

On average, students take out $18,628 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, SBCC graduates make an average of $53,400 annually.

Read full report on Santa Barbara City College

#18

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
$60,640 Average Earnings
$21,881 Avg Student Debt

University of San Francisco did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #18 on the list.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,881 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $653, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, USFCA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,640 during the early year of their career.

Read More…

#19

University of California - Davis

Davis, California
$46,065 Average Earnings
$14,449 Avg Student Debt

University of California - Davis came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in California ranking.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,449 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $281. Once they receive their degree, UC Davis graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,065 during the early year of their career.

Read full report on University of California - Davis

#20

Dominican University of California

San Rafael, California
$53,232 Average Earnings
$27,447 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #20, Dominican University of California did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,447 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $734. During the early years of their career, DUofC graduates make an average of $53,232 annually.

Read full report on Dominican University of California

#21

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, California
$50,025 Average Earnings
$27,136 Avg Student Debt

Saint Mary’s College of California landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.

On average, students take out $27,136 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $659, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, SMC graduates make an average of $50,025 annually.

Read full report on Saint Mary’s College of California

#22

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
$48,301 Average Earnings
$20,811 Avg Student Debt

Loyola Marymount University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #22 on the list.

Degree recipients from Loyola Marymount accumulate an average of $20,811 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $821, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Loyola Marymount graduates make an average of $48,301 annually.

Read full report on Loyola Marymount University

#23

Touro University Worldwide

Los Alamitos, California
$46,846 Average Earnings
$33,040 Avg Student Debt

Touro University Worldwide ranked #23 on this year’s Best Schools in California list.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,040 in student loans. During the early years of their career, TUW graduates make an average of $46,846 annually.

Full Touro University Worldwide Report

$51,239 Average Earnings

With a ranking of #25, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.

During the early years of their career, Middlebury Institute graduates make an average of $51,239 annually.

Full Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Report

Best Schools in the Far Western US Region

View Best Schools Nationwide >

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:

Rank School Location
26 University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CA
27 Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CA
28 University of Redlands Redlands, CA
29 Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA
30 San Jose State University San Jose, CA
31 Asher College Sacramento, CA

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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