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SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Economics bachelor's degree programs in California

Compare 39 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

39Programs reporting earnings
$82,697Median year-4 earnings
$16,110Median federal debt
32Programs reporting debt
OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in California

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont · $12,000 federal debt$146,5242University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley · $13,000 federal debt$135,0503Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara · $19,500 federal debt$121,3074Stanford UniversityStanford · $12,500 federal debt$112,7005Pepperdine UniversityMalibu · $24,250 federal debt$104,9436Occidental CollegeLos Angeles · $25,590 federal debt$103,1647Northeastern University OaklandOakland · $24,500 federal debt$101,4238California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo · $18,500 federal debt$98,9279University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara · $13,516 federal debt$98,17810Pomona CollegeClaremont · Debt not reported$96,702
CAREER CONTEXT IN CA

What related occupations pay in California

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

11-9199Managers, All Other
State median wage
$174,560
Middle 50% wage range
$132,000–$221,560
State employment
99,580
Projected growth
+4.9%
Annual openings
100,900
10th–90th percentile: $98,280–$303,680
25-1063Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
State median wage
$137,360
Middle 50% wage range
$100,310–$205,580
State employment
770
Projected growth
+2.4%
Annual openings
1,000
10th–90th percentile: $79,050–$266,470
19-3011Economists
State median wage
$119,410
Middle 50% wage range
$91,320–$164,770
State employment
860
Projected growth
+4.7%
Annual openings
1,100
10th–90th percentile: $74,030–$207,380
19-4061Social Science Research Assistants
State median wage
$60,250
Middle 50% wage range
$41,670–$84,990
State employment
5,300
Projected growth
+5.0%
Annual openings
4,900
10th–90th percentile: $38,060–$117,070
19-3022Survey Researchers
State median wage
$83,520
Middle 50% wage range
$68,840–$119,090
State employment
1,180
Projected growth
-4.8%
Annual openings
600
10th–90th percentile: $52,110–$171,640
15-2051Data Scientists
State median wage
$141,590
Middle 50% wage range
$103,360–$186,820
State employment
39,310
Projected growth
+34.6%
Annual openings
24,800
10th–90th percentile: $77,480–$224,920
15-2041Statisticians
State median wage
$135,960
Middle 50% wage range
$100,210–$174,340
State employment
2,480
Projected growth
+11.0%
Annual openings
1,900
10th–90th percentile: $69,890–$205,210
25-2031Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
State median wage
$101,370
Middle 50% wage range
$79,710–$125,920
State employment
99,230
Projected growth
-0.2%
Annual openings
63,500
10th–90th percentile: $64,600–$132,600

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in California; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#CollegeCityMedian year-4 earningsMedian federal debt
1Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont$146,524$12,000
2University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley$135,050$13,000
3Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara$121,307$19,500
4Stanford UniversityStanford$112,700$12,500
5Pepperdine UniversityMalibu$104,943$24,250
6Occidental CollegeLos Angeles$103,164$25,590
7Northeastern University OaklandOakland$101,423$24,500
8California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo$98,927$18,500
9University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara$98,178$13,516
10Pomona CollegeClaremont$96,702Not available
11University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles$95,440$15,000
12University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles$94,435$14,000
13University of San FranciscoSan Francisco$93,712$21,500
14Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles$88,682$21,500
15University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla$87,307$15,000
16University of California, IrvineIrvine$83,937$15,499
17Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park$83,668$20,125
18California State University, San MarcosSan Marcos$83,339$17,500
19University of California, DavisDavis$83,248$13,000
20San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco$82,697$13,750
21University of the PacificStockton$79,510Not available
22California State University, BakersfieldBakersfield$78,029Not available
23University of California, Santa CruzSanta Cruz$76,382$18,017
24San Diego State UniversitySan Diego$74,123$15,250
25California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge$72,890$13,000
26California State University, Channel IslandsCamarillo$71,662Not available
27California State University, FullertonFullerton$71,595$12,000
28California State University, Long BeachLong Beach$71,220$18,375
29California State University, SacramentoSacramento$70,290$17,625
30California State University, StanislausTurlock$69,967Not available
31University of California, MercedMerced$67,692$19,303
32California State University, ChicoChico$67,675$19,150
33California State University, East BayHayward$67,155Not available
34California State University, FresnoFresno$66,749$16,110
35University of California, RiversideRiverside$66,682$18,500
36California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata$61,175Not available
37California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona$61,084$11,858
38California State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles$54,998$11,000
39California State University, San BernardinoSan Bernardino$54,060$17,500

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Economics in California

What do Economics bachelor's degree graduates earn in California?

Across 39 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $82,697 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $16,110 among the 32 programs reporting federal debt.

Which California colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Claremont McKenna College has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.