California · Computer Programming

Best institutions to study Computer Programming in California

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…

Institutions
72
offering CIP 11.02
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,649
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
0
College Scorecard
Median net price
$30,599
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
41%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Computer Programmers
$119,900
BLS OEWS May 2025

72 institutions offering Computer Programming in California

Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by completions.

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill Public
25749%
2Santa Monica College
Santa Monica Public
15536%
3University of California - Irvine
Irvine Public
9987%
4Mt San Antonio College
Walnut Public
7645%
5City College of San Francisco
San Francisco Public
6340%
6Sacramento City College
Sacramento Public
5333%
7Pasadena City College
Pasadena Public
5148%
8Hartnell College
Salinas Public
4940%
9Riverside City College
Riverside Public
4937%
10Laney College
Oakland Public
4231%
11Reedley College
Reedley Public
4142%
12Grossmont College
El Cajon Public
3837%
13American River College
Sacramento Public
3737%
14Westcliff University
Irvine Private for-profit
3762%$26,754
15Folsom Lake College
Folsom Public
3444%
16De Anza College
Cupertino Public
3068%
17Foothill College
Los Altos Hills Public
2956%
18Los Angeles Valley College
Valley Glen Public
2932%
19MiraCosta College
Oceanside Public
2641%
20College of San Mateo
San Mateo Public
2561%
21Norco College
Norco Public
2442%
22Dominican University of California
San Rafael Private not-for-profit
2378%$48,448
23Los Angeles Mission College
Sylmar Public
2320%
24San Jose City College
San Jose Public
2334%
25Fresno City College
Fresno Public
2224%
26Saddleback College
Mission Viejo Public
2248%
27Sierra College
Rocklin Public
1942%
28Gavilan College
Gilroy Public
1742%
29Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga Public
1636%
30Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles Public
1529%
31Los Angeles Pierce College
Woodland Hills Public
1446%
32San Diego Miramar College
San Diego Public
1248%
33ABCO Technology
Los Angeles Private for-profit
12100%$14,659
34Poway Adult School
Poway Public
11
35Cypress College
Cypress Public
1037%
36Mt San Jacinto Community College District
San Jacinto Public
1036%
37Southwestern College
Chula Vista Public
1035%
38Clovis Community College
Fresno Public
1045%
39Citrus College
Glendora Public
941%
40University of Silicon Valley
San Jose Private for-profit
829%$30,599
41Columbia College
Sonora Public
827%
42Long Beach City College
Long Beach Public
830%
43Lemoore College
Lemoore Public
849%
44Cosumnes River College
Sacramento Public
740%
45East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park Public
637%
46Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles Public
634%
47Palomar College
San Marcos Public
638%
48San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino Public
628%
49Berkeley City College
Berkeley Public
636%
50Copper Mountain Community College
Joshua Tree Public
620%
51Antelope Valley Community College District
Lancaster Public
534%
52Los Angeles Harbor College
Wilmington Public
536%
53Solano Community College
Fairfield Public
536%
54West Valley College
Saratoga Public
551%
55Academy of Art University
San Francisco Private for-profit
434%$40,294
56Moorpark College
Moorpark Public
344%
57San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton Public
335%
58West Los Angeles College
Culver City Public
328%
59Cerritos College
Norwalk Public
231%
60Modesto Junior College
Modesto Public
230%
61Ohlone College
Fremont Public
252%
62Santa Ana College
Santa Ana Public
231%
63Las Positas College
Livermore Public
253%
64Cabrillo College
Aptos Public
138%
65Contra Costa College
San Pablo Public
128%
66Crafton Hills College
Yucaipa Public
131%
67Golden West College
Huntington Beach Public
149%
68Merced College
Merced Public
136%
69San Diego Mesa College
San Diego Public
135%
70College of the Siskiyous
Weed Public
133%
71Santiago Canyon College
Orange Public
148%
72Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley Public
134%

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Computer Programmers (SOC 15-1251).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-6.0%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~5,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$98,670
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingActive Learning

What Computer Programmers earn in California

Jobs in California
11,340
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$119,900
median $116,760
Best-paying metro
$150,780
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Related careers

Software Developers
$186,770 avg · 284,390 jobs
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
$131,260 avg · 27,710 jobs
Web and Digital Interface Designers
$146,210 avg · 27,090 jobs
Computer Network Support Specialists
$88,760 avg · 13,620 jobs
Computer Programmers
$119,900 avg · 11,340 jobs
Web Developers
$122,890 avg · 7,320 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Computer Programming programs in California.

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.

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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