Best colleges for Computer Science in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Institute of Technology, University of California-Berkeley and Pomona College are the top bachelor's Computer Science programs in California by graduate earnings. California Institute of Technology leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $173,344, College Scorecard. University of Southern California, Stanford University and University of California-Berkeley award the most Computer Science degrees in California: 1,551, 1,018 and 995 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 136 California colleges offer Computer Science and award 16,990 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Computer Science program focuses on the study of computation, information, and automation. This field encompasses both theoretical and applied disciplines, making it suitable for individuals interested in technology and…
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 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $173,344 | 91 | 94% | $17,608 | — |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $149,866 | 995 | 93% | — | $13,900 |
| 3 | Pomona College Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $143,084 | 77 | 93% | $16,571 | — |
| 4 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $138,613 | 1,018 | 92% | $12,032 | $10,399 |
| 5 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $137,284 | 1,551 | 92% | $26,873 | $20,178 |
| 6 | Harvey Mudd College Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $132,265 | 54 | 92% | $22,858 | $22,949 |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $112,006 | 834 | 86% | — | $16,550 |
| 8 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $111,141 | 321 | 86% | — | $19,298 |
| 9 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $107,776 | 295 | 83% | — | $11,000 |
| 10 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $104,948 | 51 | 84% | $26,035 | $19,719 |
Colleges awarding the most Computer Science 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 Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 1,551 | $137,284 |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 1,018 | $138,613 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 995 | $149,866 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 844 | $82,161 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 834 | $112,006 |
| 6 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 764 | $75,150 |
| 7 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 676 | $57,307 |
| 8 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 596 | Not reported |
| 9 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 594 | $60,378 |
| 10 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 477 | $81,034 |
ShowHide the other 126 California colleges offering Computer Science
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 Science programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Computer Science degrees?+
University of Southern California (1,551 graduates a year), Stanford University (1,018 graduates a year) and University of California-Berkeley (995 graduates a year) award the most Computer Science degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 136 California colleges offer Computer Science.
What is the best college for Computer Science in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Institute of Technology leads among bachelor's Computer Science programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $173,344, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley and Pomona College follow. By degrees awarded, University of Southern California is the largest, with 1,551 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Computer Science program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Institute of Technology tops the list at $173,344. 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 Science program?+
The Computer Science program focuses on the study of computation, information, and automation. This field encompasses both theoretical and applied disciplines, making it suitable for individuals interested in technology and…
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card