California · Behavioral Sciences

Best institutions to study Behavioral Sciences in California

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…

Institutions
16
offering CIP 30.17
States offered
40
with a program page
Degrees / yr
817
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$29,830
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,873
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
53%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Social Science Research Assistants
$70,260
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Concordia University - Irvine
Irvine Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$31,8991358%$26,609$24,583
2Life Pacific University
San Dimas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$29,8301940%$23,832$27,000
3University of California - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,70946475%$17,500

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Social Science Research Assistants (SOC 19-4061).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~5,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$58,040
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingCritical ThinkingSpeakingScience

What Social Science Research Assistants earn in California

Jobs in California
5,300
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$70,260
median $60,250
Best-paying metro
$86,880
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Related careers

Social and Community Service Managers
$95,910 avg · 33,510 jobs
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
$63,160 avg · 16,250 jobs
Social Science Research Assistants
$70,260 avg · 5,300 jobs
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
$126,620 avg · 4,410 jobs
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$103,820 avg · 2,970 jobs
Psychologists, All Other
$139,610 avg · 1,600 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Behavioral Sciences programs in California.

Which Behavioral Sciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Concordia University - Irvine tops the list at $31,899. Compare it against completions, 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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