Best colleges for Applied Mathematics in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, University of Southern California and University of California-Los Angeles are the top bachelor's Applied Mathematics programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $71,814, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Los Angeles and University of Southern California award the most Applied Mathematics degrees in California: 345, 305 and 292 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 California colleges offer Applied Mathematics and award 2,113 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Applied Mathematics program focuses on the practical application of mathematical methods across various fields, including physics, engineering, finance, and biology. This program is ideal for students who are interested in solving…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,814 | 345 | 93% | — | $14,598 |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,622 | 292 | 92% | $26,873 | $12,251 |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $61,188 | 305 | 93% | — | $14,400 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,638 | 187 | 83% | — | $17,000 |
| 5 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,940 | 104 | 86% | — | $14,750 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,859 | 240 | 86% | — | $15,516 |
| 7 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,856 | 35 | 76% | — | $24,563 |
| 8 | University of California-Merced Merced Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,138 | 41 | 69% | — | $16,497 |
Colleges awarding the most Applied Mathematics degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 345 | $71,814 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 305 | $61,188 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 292 | $71,622 |
| 4 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 240 | $42,859 |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 187 | $59,638 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 146 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 104 | $53,940 |
| 8 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 86 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 61 | Not reported |
| 10 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 51 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 California colleges offering Applied Mathematics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate University (Degree completion) | San Francisco | Private not-for-profit | 63 |
| University of California-Merced | Merced | Public | 41 |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Public | 35 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Naval Postgraduate School (Graduate only) | Monterey | Public | 18 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | Public | 7 |
| Claremont Graduate University (Graduate only) | Claremont | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| California State Polytechnic University - Pomona | Pomona | Public | 1 |
| Fresno Pacific University | Fresno | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of the West | Rosemead | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mathematicians (SOC 15-2021).
Top skills
What Mathematicians earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Applied Mathematics programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Applied Mathematics degrees?+
University of California-Berkeley (345 graduates a year), University of California-Los Angeles (305 graduates a year) and University of Southern California (292 graduates a year) award the most Applied Mathematics degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 California colleges offer Applied Mathematics.
What is the best college for Applied Mathematics in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley leads among bachelor's Applied Mathematics programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $71,814, College Scorecard. University of Southern California and University of California-Los Angeles follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Berkeley is the largest, with 345 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Applied Mathematics program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Berkeley tops the list at $71,814. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mathematicians earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Mathematicians in California is $129,110 (median $126,710), across about 250 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Applied Mathematics program?+
The Applied Mathematics program focuses on the practical application of mathematical methods across various fields, including physics, engineering, finance, and biology. This program is ideal for students who are interested in solving…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop mathematics, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Mathematicians?+
The national job outlook is about -0.7% growth with around 100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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