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CA · OBSERVED FEDERAL OUTCOMES

Highest-earning colleges in California

Colleges ranked by reported median earnings five years after completion. Price and modeled ROI do not affect the order.

92eligible collegesYear 5earnings period
LOWERMEDIAN EARNINGS · YEAR 5 AFTER COMPLETIONHIGHER
1
Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, CA · Private nonprofit
$154,095Observed median earnings
2
Samuel Merritt UniversityOakland, CA · Private nonprofit
$147,667Observed median earnings
3
California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA · Private nonprofit
$136,775Observed median earnings
4
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA · Private nonprofit
$132,900Observed median earnings
5
West Coast University-OntarioOntario, CA · Private for-profit
$108,697Observed median earnings
6
West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange CountyAnaheim, CA · Private for-profit
$108,697Observed median earnings
7
Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA · Private nonprofit
$108,186Observed median earnings
8
Cal Poly Maritime AcademyVallejo, CA · Public
$108,075Observed median earnings
9
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA · Private nonprofit
$104,986Observed median earnings
10
University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · Public
$95,520Observed median earnings
11
Chamberlain University-CaliforniaRancho Cordova, CA · Private for-profit
$95,339Observed median earnings
12
Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda, CA · Private nonprofit
$93,251Observed median earnings
13
Dominican University of CaliforniaSan Rafael, CA · Private nonprofit
$92,526Observed median earnings
14
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
$91,408Observed median earnings
15
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · Public
$89,413Observed median earnings
16
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit
$87,516Observed median earnings
17
University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · Public
$84,593Observed median earnings
18
University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
$82,964Observed median earnings
19
Menlo CollegeAtherton, CA · Private nonprofit
$81,997Observed median earnings
20
Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA · Private nonprofit
$79,256Observed median earnings
21
Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills, CA · Public
$78,860Observed median earnings
22
University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · Public
$77,498Observed median earnings
23
University of the PacificStockton, CA · Private nonprofit
$76,827Observed median earnings
24
Art Center College of DesignPasadena, CA · Private nonprofit
$75,387Observed median earnings
25
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
$75,375Observed median earnings
26
University of California, DavisDavis, CA · Public
$75,091Observed median earnings
27
Mount Saint Mary's UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
$74,255Observed median earnings
28
Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga, CA · Private nonprofit
$74,189Observed median earnings
29
Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA · Private nonprofit
$73,623Observed median earnings
30
California State University, East BayHayward, CA · Public
$73,481Observed median earnings
31
National UniversitySan Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
$73,353Observed median earnings
32
University of California, IrvineIrvine, CA · Public
$72,659Observed median earnings
33
University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA · Public
$71,288Observed median earnings
34
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, CA · Public
$70,795Observed median earnings
35
Chapman UniversityOrange, CA · Private nonprofit
$70,171Observed median earnings
36
University of RedlandsRedlands, CA · Private nonprofit
$69,744Observed median earnings
37
Concordia University-IrvineIrvine, CA · Private nonprofit
$68,691Observed median earnings
38
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA · Public
$68,268Observed median earnings
39
Pacific Union CollegeAngwin, CA · Private nonprofit
$68,000Observed median earnings
40
Woodbury UniversityBurbank, CA · Private nonprofit
$66,933Observed median earnings
41
California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CA · Private nonprofit
$66,372Observed median earnings
42
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA · Public
$65,488Observed median earnings
43
Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CA · Public
$65,250Observed median earnings
44
Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA · Private nonprofit
$65,063Observed median earnings
45
Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
$64,966Observed median earnings
46
University of Massachusetts GlobalAliso Viejo, CA · Public
$64,814Observed median earnings
47
University of La VerneLa Verne, CA · Private nonprofit
$64,663Observed median earnings
48
California State University, San MarcosSan Marcos, CA · Public
$64,649Observed median earnings
49
California State University, SacramentoSacramento, CA · Public
$64,495Observed median earnings
50
University of California, Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA · Public
$64,162Observed median earnings

The ranking includes currently operating colleges in California with reported bachelor’s-level programs, at least 500 students and available year-5 earnings. It does not adjust for program mix, geography, student background or cost.

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Highest-earning colleges by state

Every state page uses the same year-5 federal earnings measure and national eligibility screen.

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