2023 Most Popular Online Schools in California
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Online Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 108 schools in California to see which ones had the most popular online programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
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Most Popular Online Schools in California
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Out of the 108 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Monica College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Santa Monica, California, the large public school awarded 8,388 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from SMC accumulate an average of $13,428 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, SMC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $70,951 during the early year of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 108 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, National University landed the # 3 spot on the list. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 6,953 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $31,362 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $198 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, National University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $58,580 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Rio Hondo College is a great place for students. RHCCD is located in Whittier, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,764 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from RHCCD accumulate an average of $18,088 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, RHCCD graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $76,455 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Merced College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in California list. Merced Community College District is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 2,930 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $9,785 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Merced Community College District graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,460 during the early year of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Brandman University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #6 on the list. Brandman is a private not-for-profit institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3,462 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $29,571 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Brandman, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,858 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in California list. San Mateo, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,454 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $18,438 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $118, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,087 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
San Bernardino Valley College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in California list. San Bernardino Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 2,129 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from San Bernardino Valley College accumulate an average of $11,095 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from San Bernardino Valley College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,038 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Los Angeles Harbor College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in California ranking. Wilmington, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,969 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $12,633 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from LAHC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,999 during the early years of their career. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Northcentral University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. San Diego, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 2,145 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $28,423 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Northcentral University graduates make an average of $56,007 annually. Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in California list. Located in San Marcos, California, the medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 1,531 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
After graduating from USAHS, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $70,345 during the early years of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
College of San Mateo came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in California ranking. Located in San Mateo, California, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,124 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $16,091 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, CSM graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $56,787 during the early year of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
Academy of Art University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #13 on the list. Academy of Art University is a private for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,729 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $35,400 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $877 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Academy of Art University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,075 during the early years of their career. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #14, Compton College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Located in Compton, California, the small public school awarded 653 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Around 77% of those degree recipients were women.
University of the People came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in California ranking. University of the People is a large private not-for-profit school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 1,300 degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 35% were women.
Saddleback College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Located in Mission Viejo, California, the fairly large public school handed out 6,479 degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, Saddleback College graduates make an average of $73,348 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
With a ranking of #17, Santa Barbara City College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Located in Santa Barbara, California, the fairly large public school awarded 4,676 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,628 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, SBCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,400 during the early year of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #18, Fresno Pacific University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Located in Fresno, California, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,446 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Fresno Pacific accumulate an average of $26,029 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $215 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Fresno Pacific graduates make an average of $50,730 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in California ranking. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is located in Visalia, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 964 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,199 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $102 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates make an average of $39,446 annually. Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
Diablo Valley College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Diablo Valley is located in Pleasant Hill, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,526 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $11,660 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Azusa Pacific University College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Azusa Pacific’s University College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Dimas, California. It awarded 464 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $34,976 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 76% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Southern California did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #22 on the list. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 17,749 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,661 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $489 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, USC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $65,044 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Unitek College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in California ranking. Unitek College is a private for-profit institution located in Fremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,810 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $16,947 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $130, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Unitek College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,641 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 84% were women.
Alliant International University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #24 on the list. Alliant is located in San Diego, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,074 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $21,733 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Alliant graduates make an average of $62,491 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.
Golden Gate University - San Francisco did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #25 on the list. Golden Gate University - San Francisco is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 889 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Golden Gate University - San Francisco accumulate an average of $35,348 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Golden Gate University - San Francisco, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $79,352 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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