Best colleges for Computational Science in California
Ranked by graduates a year
University of California-Irvine, Chapman University and University of California-San Diego award the most Computational Science degrees and certificates in California: 66, 42 and 22 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 California colleges offer Computational Science and award 152 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Computational Science is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on using advanced computing capabilities to tackle complex scientific problems. This field combines elements of computer science, mathematics, and various scientific…
6 institutions offering Computational Science in California
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | — | 66 | 87% | — | — |
| 2 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit | — | 42 | 82% | $42,965 | — |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | — | 22 | 86% | — | — |
| 4 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | — | 14 | 76% | — | — |
| 5 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | — | 4 | 76% | — | — |
| 6 | Naval Postgraduate School Monterey Public Graduate only | — | 4 | — | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Computational Science degrees in California
Top 5 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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-Irvine Irvine Public | 66 | Not reported |
| 2 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit | 42 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 4 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 California colleges offering Computational Science
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Postgraduate School (Graduate only) | Monterey | Public | 4 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051).
What Data Scientists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Computational Science programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Computational Science degrees?+
University of California-Irvine (66 graduates a year), Chapman University (42 graduates a year) and University of California-San Diego (22 graduates a year) award the most Computational Science degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 California colleges offer Computational Science.
How much do Data Scientists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Data Scientists in California is $156,000 (median $141,590), across about 39,310 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Computational Science program?+
Computational Science is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on using advanced computing capabilities to tackle complex scientific problems. This field combines elements of computer science, mathematics, and various scientific…
What is the job outlook for Data Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about +33.5% growth with around 23,400 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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