Best colleges for Economics in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Stanford University, Claremont McKenna College and University of California-Berkeley are the top bachelor's Economics programs in California by graduate earnings. Stanford University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $98,104, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Santa Barbara award the most Economics degrees in California: 1,028, 777 and 727 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 150 California colleges offer Economics and award 11,482 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…
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 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $98,104 | 151 | 92% | $12,032 | $12,500 |
| 2 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,505 | 110 | 91% | $22,678 | $12,000 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,446 | 777 | 93% | — | $13,000 |
| 4 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,606 | 86 | 88% | $44,094 | $19,500 |
| 5 | Pomona College Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,051 | 49 | 93% | $16,571 | — |
| 6 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,501 | 86 | 86% | — | $18,500 |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,334 | 727 | 83% | — | $13,516 |
| 8 | Occidental College Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,885 | 58 | 81% | $28,024 | $25,590 |
| 9 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,091 | 1,028 | 93% | — | $15,000 |
| 10 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,046 | 66 | 70% | $37,121 | $21,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics 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-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 1,028 | $62,091 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 777 | $80,446 |
| 3 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 727 | $66,334 |
| 4 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 462 | $50,295 |
| 5 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 441 | $57,060 |
| 6 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 384 | $37,149 |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 277 | $44,087 |
| 8 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 254 | Not reported |
| 9 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | 250 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 245 | $51,192 |
ShowHide the other 140 California colleges offering Economics
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
University of California-Los Angeles (1,028 graduates a year), University of California-Berkeley (777 graduates a year) and University of California-Santa Barbara (727 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 150 California colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in California?+
By graduate earnings, Stanford University leads among bachelor's Economics programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $98,104, College Scorecard. Claremont McKenna College and University of California-Berkeley follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Los Angeles is the largest, with 1,028 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Stanford University tops the list at $98,104. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Economists in California is $133,680 (median $119,410), across about 860 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Economics program?+
The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Economists?+
The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 900 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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