Best colleges for Computer and Information Sciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Davis and Loyola Marymount University are the top bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $88,030, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley, University of Southern California and University of California-San Diego award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in California: 1,112, 374 and 265 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 132 California colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences and award 8,923 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Computer and Information Sciences program focuses on the intersection of computing and informatics, treating computers as essential tools for problem-solving and innovation. This program is designed for students interested in…
Top 10 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 | $88,030 | 1,112 | 93% | — | $13,550 |
| 2 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,343 | 147 | 86% | — | $14,282 |
| 3 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,763 | 87 | 79% | $36,488 | $26,000 |
| 4 | Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,111 | 23 | 77% | $48,795 | $25,000 |
| 5 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,931 | 119 | 57% | — | $19,007 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,517 | 174 | 87% | — | $20,000 |
| 7 | University of La Verne La Verne Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,160 | 46 | 63% | $45,461 | $25,000 |
| 8 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,967 | 69 | 63% | — | $20,886 |
| 9 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,916 | 66 | 43% | — | $18,750 |
| 10 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,355 | 123 | 53% | — | $13,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Joaquin Valley College - Visalia Visalia Private for-profit · Certificate | $42,479 | 45 | 36% | $30,518 | $8,867 |
Colleges awarding the most Computer and Information 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-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 1,112 | $88,030 |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 374 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 265 | Not reported |
| 4 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa Public | 252 | Not reported |
| 5 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public | 235 | $42,180 |
| 6 | Westcliff University Irvine Private for-profit | 216 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 174 | $53,517 |
| 8 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 147 | $84,343 |
| 9 | Imperial Valley College Imperial Public | 124 | Not reported |
| 10 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 123 | $45,355 |
ShowHide the other 122 California colleges offering Computer and Information Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221).
Top skills
What Computer and Information Research Scientists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Computer and Information Sciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees?+
University of California-Berkeley (1,112 graduates a year), University of Southern California (374 graduates a year) and University of California-San Diego (265 graduates a year) award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 132 California colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences.
What is the best college for Computer and Information Sciences in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley leads among bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $88,030, College Scorecard. University of California-Davis and Loyola Marymount University follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Berkeley is the largest, with 1,112 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Computer and Information 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-Berkeley tops the list at $88,030. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Computer and Information Research Scientists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in California is $168,580 (median $159,100), across about 8,440 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Computer and Information Sciences program?+
The Computer and Information Sciences program focuses on the intersection of computing and informatics, treating computers as essential tools for problem-solving and innovation. This program is designed for students interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Computer and Information Research Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about +19.7% growth with around 3,200 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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