DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
Home›Best ROI colleges›California
CA · BACHELOR’S-REPORTING COLLEGES

Best ROI colleges in California

Ten years of reported earnings premium, measured against four years of net price plus earnings forgone while studying.

90eligible colleges$45kcomparison earnings
LOWER10-YEAR ROIHIGHER
1
California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA · Private nonprofit
+276%+$673,450
2
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA · Private nonprofit
+274%+$643,772
3
Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, CA · Private nonprofit
+237%+$767,254
4
Cal Poly Maritime AcademyVallejo, CA · Public
+141%+$368,530
5
University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · Public
+116%+$271,276
6
Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA · Private nonprofit
+114%+$336,464
7
West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange CountyAnaheim, CA · Private for-profit
+104%+$325,454
8
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · Public
+80%+$197,470
9
University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · Public
+72%+$166,050
10
West Coast University-OntarioOntario, CA · Private for-profit
+68%+$258,610
11
Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills, CA · Public
+61%+$127,988
12
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA · Private nonprofit
+58%+$219,612
13
Chamberlain University-CaliforniaRancho Cordova, CA · Private for-profit
+54%+$177,154
14
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
+49%+$153,120
15
Dominican University of CaliforniaSan Rafael, CA · Private nonprofit
+48%+$153,928
16
University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · Public
+41%+$94,788
17
California State University, East BayHayward, CA · Public
+31%+$67,530
18
University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
+26%+$78,180
19
University of California, DavisDavis, CA · Public
+26%+$61,946
20
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit
+23%+$79,436
21
Menlo CollegeAtherton, CA · Private nonprofit
+22%+$65,570
22
University of California, IrvineIrvine, CA · Public
+17%+$39,586
23
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, CA · Public
+14%+$31,826
24
University of the PacificStockton, CA · Private nonprofit
+13%+$36,482
25
Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA · Private nonprofit
+11%+$29,090
26
Mount Saint Mary's UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
+10%+$26,898
27
University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA · Public
+8%+$18,444
28
National UniversitySan Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
+4%+$12,018
29
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA · Public
+2%+$3,568
30
Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga, CA · Private nonprofit
−3%−$9,622
31
California State University, SacramentoSacramento, CA · Public
−10%−$22,402
32
California State University, San MarcosSan Marcos, CA · Public
−11%−$24,426
33
Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CA · Public
−13%−$29,040
34
California State University, FullertonFullerton, CA · Public
−14%−$28,920
35
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA · Public
−15%−$36,576
36
Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA · Private nonprofit
−17%−$69,832
37
University of RedlandsRedlands, CA · Private nonprofit
−18%−$52,684
38
California State University, BakersfieldBakersfield, CA · Public
−18%−$36,638
39
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
−19%−$69,774
40
Art Center College of DesignPasadena, CA · Private nonprofit
−19%−$70,774
41
Concordia University-IrvineIrvine, CA · Private nonprofit
−19%−$55,550
42
University of California, MercedMerced, CA · Public
−22%−$49,092
43
University of California, RiversideRiverside, CA · Public
−22%−$53,106
44
California State University, StanislausTurlock, CA · Public
−22%−$45,758
45
California State University, Long BeachLong Beach, CA · Public
−23%−$51,710
46
University of California, Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA · Public
−24%−$59,940
47
University of La VerneLa Verne, CA · Private nonprofit
−25%−$64,014
48
California State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · Public
−25%−$48,718
49
Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA · Private nonprofit
−25%−$68,218
50
California State University, FresnoFresno, CA · Public
−26%−$54,000

Eligibility requires a currently operating college, a reported bachelor’s-level program, at least 500 students, observed earnings and annual average net price of at least $1,000. State rank is relative only to eligible institutions in California.

TAKE THE SAME RANKING LOCAL

Best ROI colleges by state

Every state page uses the same data-quality screen and economic-investment formula as the national ranking.

ALAlabamaAKAlaskaAZArizonaARArkansasCACaliforniaCOColoradoCTConnecticutDEDelawareDCDistrict of ColumbiaFLFloridaGAGeorgiaHIHawaiiIDIdahoILIllinoisINIndianaIAIowaKSKansasKYKentuckyLALouisianaMEMaineMDMarylandMAMassachusettsMIMichiganMNMinnesotaMSMississippiMOMissouriMTMontanaNENebraskaNVNevadaNHNew HampshireNJNew JerseyNMNew MexicoNYNew YorkNCNorth CarolinaNDNorth DakotaOHOhioOKOklahomaOROregonPAPennsylvaniaRIRhode IslandSCSouth CarolinaSDSouth DakotaTNTennesseeTXTexasUTUtahVTVermontVAVirginiaWAWashingtonWVWest VirginiaWIWisconsinWYWyoming