Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Antioch University - Los Angeles, Sonoma State University and California State University - East Bay are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in California by graduate earnings. Antioch University - Los Angeles leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,487, College Scorecard. Santa Monica College, Golden West College and Los Angeles Pierce College award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in California: 5,735, 3,183 and 3,010 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 187 California colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 119,208 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
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 | Antioch University - Los Angeles Culver City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,487 | 29 | — | — | $29,832 |
| 2 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,758 | 78 | 58% | — | $16,500 |
| 3 | California State University - East Bay Hayward Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,509 | 48 | 48% | — | $15,944 |
| 4 | Azusa Pacific University Azusa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,194 | 102 | 62% | $20,686 | $25,000 |
| 5 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,056 | 96 | 86% | — | $17,500 |
| 6 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,793 | 30 | 62% | $26,940 | $28,587 |
| 7 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,588 | 139 | 43% | — | $15,453 |
| 8 | Thomas Aquinas College Santa Paula Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,432 | 119 | 84% | $21,569 | $18,000 |
| 9 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,324 | 216 | 57% | — | $15,000 |
| 10 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,112 | 45 | 50% | — | $15,467 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
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 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $41,545 | 168 | 43% | $31,817 | $10,008 |
| 2 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public · Certificate | $33,628 | 1,706 | 37% | — | $5,701 |
| 3 | San Diego Mesa College San Diego Public · Certificate | $33,015 | 284 | 35% | — | $4,875 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles Public · Associate degree | $32,770 | 588 | 34% | — | $13,870 |
| 5 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton Public · Associate degree | $32,492 | 1,312 | 35% | — | $6,382 |
| 6 | San Diego City College San Diego Public · Certificate | $32,438 | 322 | 30% | — | $8,933 |
| 7 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego Public · Certificate | $31,804 | 379 | 48% | — | $6,500 |
| 8 | Santiago Canyon College Orange Public · Certificate | $31,050 | 1,376 | 48% | — | $5,500 |
| 9 | College of the Desert Palm Desert Public · Associate degree | $30,417 | 1,374 | 31% | — | $6,500 |
| 10 | Los Medanos College Pittsburg Public · Certificate | $29,879 | 842 | 41% | — | $9,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and 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 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 5,735 | Not reported |
| 2 | Golden West College Huntington Beach Public | 3,183 | Not reported |
| 3 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills Public | 3,010 | Not reported |
| 4 | Moorpark College Moorpark Public | 2,931 | Not reported |
| 5 | Irvine Valley College Irvine Public | 2,288 | Not reported |
| 6 | Ventura College Ventura Public | 2,278 | Not reported |
| 7 | Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara Public | 1,980 | Not reported |
| 8 | Long Beach City College Long Beach Public | 1,929 | Not reported |
| 9 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | 1,898 | Not reported |
| 10 | Grossmont College El Cajon Public | 1,816 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 177 California colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Santa Monica College (5,735 graduates a year), Golden West College (3,183 graduates a year) and Los Angeles Pierce College (3,010 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 187 California colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in California?+
By graduate earnings, Antioch University - Los Angeles leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,487, College Scorecard. Sonoma State University and California State University - East Bay follow. By degrees awarded, Santa Monica College is the largest, with 5,735 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Antioch University - Los Angeles tops the list at $46,487. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in California is $111,940 (median $100,690), across about 37,770 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional 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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