Best colleges for Behavioral Sciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Santa Cruz, Imperial Valley College and San Jose State University award the most Behavioral Sciences degrees in California: 464, 193 and 47 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 California colleges offer Behavioral Sciences and award 817 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Behavioral Sciences program focuses on understanding and analyzing human behavior through an interdisciplinary approach. It encompasses various fields such as psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and social science, making it…
Top 3 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-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,709 | 464 | 75% | — | $17,500 |
| 2 | Concordia University - Irvine Irvine Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,899 | 13 | 58% | $26,609 | $24,583 |
| 3 | Life Pacific University San Dimas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,830 | 19 | 40% | $23,832 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Behavioral Sciences 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-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 464 | $28,709 |
| 2 | Imperial Valley College Imperial Public | 193 | Not reported |
| 3 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 47 | Not reported |
| 4 | American River College Sacramento Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 5 | Life Pacific University San Dimas Private not-for-profit | 19 | $29,830 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 7 | Concordia University - Irvine Irvine Private not-for-profit | 13 | $31,899 |
| 8 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 9 | Cuyamaca College El Cajon Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 California colleges offering Behavioral Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shasta College | Redding | Public | 5 |
| Chabot College | Hayward | Public | 4 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | Public | 3 |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | Public | 1 |
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061).
Top skills
What Social Science Research Assistants earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Behavioral Sciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Behavioral Sciences degrees?+
University of California-Santa Cruz (464 graduates a year), Imperial Valley College (193 graduates a year) and San Jose State University (47 graduates a year) award the most Behavioral Sciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 California colleges offer Behavioral Sciences.
Which Behavioral Sciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Santa Cruz tops the list at $28,709. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Social Science Research Assistants earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in California is $70,260 (median $60,250), across about 5,300 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Behavioral Sciences program?+
The Behavioral Sciences program focuses on understanding and analyzing human behavior through an interdisciplinary approach. It encompasses various fields such as psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and social science, making it…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, writing, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Social Science Research Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 5,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor'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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