Best colleges for Computer Programming in California
Ranked by graduates a year
Diablo Valley College, Santa Monica College and University of California-Irvine award the most Computer Programming degrees and certificates in California: 257, 155 and 99 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 72 California colleges offer Computer Programming and award 1,649 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Computer Programming program focuses on the study of computation, information, and automation within the field of Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services. It is designed for individuals interested in developing software…
72 institutions offering Computer Programming 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 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill Public | — | 257 | 49% | — | — |
| 2 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | — | 155 | 36% | — | — |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | — | 99 | 87% | — | — |
| 4 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | — | 76 | 45% | — | — |
| 5 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco Public | — | 63 | 40% | — | — |
| 6 | Sacramento City College Sacramento Public | — | 53 | 33% | — | — |
| 7 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | — | 51 | 48% | — | — |
| 8 | Hartnell College Salinas Public | — | 49 | 40% | — | — |
| 9 | Riverside City College Riverside Public | — | 49 | 37% | — | — |
| 10 | Laney College Oakland Public | — | 42 | 31% | — | — |
| 11 | Reedley College Reedley Public | — | 41 | 42% | — | — |
| 12 | Grossmont College El Cajon Public | — | 38 | 37% | — | — |
| 13 | American River College Sacramento Public | — | 37 | 37% | — | — |
| 14 | Westcliff University Irvine Private for-profit | — | 37 | 62% | $26,754 | — |
| 15 | Folsom Lake College Folsom Public | — | 34 | 44% | — | — |
| 16 | De Anza College Cupertino Public | — | 30 | 68% | — | — |
| 17 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills Public | — | 29 | 56% | — | — |
| 18 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen Public | — | 29 | 32% | — | — |
| 19 | MiraCosta College Oceanside Public | — | 26 | 41% | — | — |
| 20 | College of San Mateo San Mateo Public | — | 25 | 61% | — | — |
| 21 | Norco College Norco Public | — | 24 | 42% | — | — |
| 22 | Dominican University of California San Rafael Private not-for-profit | — | 23 | 78% | $48,448 | — |
| 23 | Los Angeles Mission College Sylmar Public | — | 23 | 20% | — | — |
| 24 | San Jose City College San Jose Public | — | 23 | 34% | — | — |
| 25 | Fresno City College Fresno Public | — | 22 | 24% | — | — |
| 26 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo Public | — | 22 | 48% | — | — |
| 27 | Sierra College Rocklin Public | — | 19 | 42% | — | — |
| 28 | Gavilan College Gilroy Public | — | 17 | 42% | — | — |
| 29 | Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga Public | — | 16 | 36% | — | — |
| 30 | Los Angeles City College Los Angeles Public | — | 15 | 29% | — | — |
| 31 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills Public | — | 14 | 46% | — | — |
| 32 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego Public | — | 12 | 48% | — | — |
| 33 | ABCO Technology Los Angeles Private for-profit | — | 12 | 100% | $14,659 | — |
| 34 | Poway Adult School Poway Public | — | 11 | — | — | — |
| 35 | Cypress College Cypress Public | — | 10 | 37% | — | — |
| 36 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto Public | — | 10 | 36% | — | — |
| 37 | Southwestern College Chula Vista Public | — | 10 | 35% | — | — |
| 38 | Clovis Community College Fresno Public | — | 10 | 45% | — | — |
| 39 | Citrus College Glendora Public | — | 9 | 41% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Silicon Valley San Jose Private for-profit | — | 8 | 29% | $30,599 | — |
| 41 | Columbia College Sonora Public | — | 8 | 27% | — | — |
| 42 | Long Beach City College Long Beach Public | — | 8 | 30% | — | — |
| 43 | Lemoore College Lemoore Public | — | 8 | 49% | — | — |
| 44 | Cosumnes River College Sacramento Public | — | 7 | 40% | — | — |
| 45 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | — | 6 | 37% | — | — |
| 46 | Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles Public | — | 6 | 34% | — | — |
| 47 | Palomar College San Marcos Public | — | 6 | 38% | — | — |
| 48 | San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino Public | — | 6 | 28% | — | — |
| 49 | Berkeley City College Berkeley Public | — | 6 | 36% | — | — |
| 50 | Copper Mountain Community College Joshua Tree Public | — | 6 | 20% | — | — |
| 51 | Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster Public | — | 5 | 34% | — | — |
| 52 | Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington Public | — | 5 | 36% | — | — |
| 53 | Solano Community College Fairfield Public | — | 5 | 36% | — | — |
| 54 | West Valley College Saratoga Public | — | 5 | 51% | — | — |
| 55 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit | — | 4 | 34% | $40,294 | — |
| 56 | Moorpark College Moorpark Public | — | 3 | 44% | — | — |
| 57 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton Public | — | 3 | 35% | — | — |
| 58 | West Los Angeles College Culver City Public | — | 3 | 28% | — | — |
| 59 | Cerritos College Norwalk Public | — | 2 | 31% | — | — |
| 60 | Modesto Junior College Modesto Public | — | 2 | 30% | — | — |
| 61 | Ohlone College Fremont Public | — | 2 | 52% | — | — |
| 62 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana Public | — | 2 | 31% | — | — |
| 63 | Las Positas College Livermore Public | — | 2 | 53% | — | — |
| 64 | Cabrillo College Aptos Public | — | 1 | 38% | — | — |
| 65 | Contra Costa College San Pablo Public | — | 1 | 28% | — | — |
| 66 | Crafton Hills College Yucaipa Public | — | 1 | 31% | — | — |
| 67 | Golden West College Huntington Beach Public | — | 1 | 49% | — | — |
| 68 | Merced College Merced Public | — | 1 | 36% | — | — |
| 69 | San Diego Mesa College San Diego Public | — | 1 | 35% | — | — |
| 70 | College of the Siskiyous Weed Public | — | 1 | 33% | — | — |
| 71 | Santiago Canyon College Orange Public | — | 1 | 48% | — | — |
| 72 | Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley Public | — | 1 | 34% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Computer Programming degrees in California
Top 10 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 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill Public | 257 | Not reported |
| 2 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 155 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 99 | Not reported |
| 4 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 76 | Not reported |
| 5 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco Public | 63 | Not reported |
| 6 | Sacramento City College Sacramento Public | 53 | Not reported |
| 7 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | 51 | Not reported |
| 8 | Hartnell College Salinas Public | 49 | Not reported |
| 9 | Riverside City College Riverside Public | 49 | Not reported |
| 10 | Laney College Oakland Public | 42 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 62 California colleges offering Computer Programming
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Computer Programmers (SOC 15-1251).
Top skills
What Computer Programmers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Computer Programming programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Computer Programming degrees?+
Diablo Valley College (257 graduates a year), Santa Monica College (155 graduates a year) and University of California-Irvine (99 graduates a year) award the most Computer Programming degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 72 California colleges offer Computer Programming.
How much do Computer Programmers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Computer Programmers in California is $119,900 (median $116,760), across about 11,340 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Computer Programming program?+
The Computer Programming program focuses on the study of computation, information, and automation within the field of Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services. It is designed for individuals interested in developing software…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Computer Programmers?+
The national job outlook is about -6.0% growth with around 5,500 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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