Best colleges for Mathematics in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, University of California-San Diego and Pomona College are the top bachelor's Mathematics programs in California by graduate earnings. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,136, College Scorecard. University of California-San Diego, University of California-Los Angeles and Los Angeles Pierce College award the most Mathematics degrees in California: 234, 196 and 179 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 175 California colleges offer Mathematics and award 6,746 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Mathematics program encompasses a broad range of topics related to abstract concepts such as numbers, geometric shapes, and functions. It is designed for students interested in exploring logical reasoning and proof to understand 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 Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,136 | 66 | 86% | — | $16,718 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,339 | 234 | 86% | — | $16,250 |
| 3 | Pomona College Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,712 | 27 | 93% | $16,571 | — |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,674 | 126 | 93% | — | $20,500 |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,447 | 109 | 83% | — | $17,000 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,924 | 154 | 87% | — | $19,000 |
| 7 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,903 | 74 | 70% | — | — |
| 8 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,257 | 21 | 50% | — | $18,697 |
| 9 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,798 | 43 | 75% | — | $19,232 |
| 10 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,598 | 42 | 57% | — | $16,949 |
Top certificate or associate program
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 | Lemoore College Lemoore Public · Associate degree Small program | $16,986 | 9 | 49% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Mathematics 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-San Diego La Jolla Public | 234 | $52,339 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 196 | $38,449 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills Public | 179 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 154 | $45,924 |
| 5 | Irvine Valley College Irvine Public | 150 | Not reported |
| 6 | El Camino Community College District Torrance Public | 140 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 126 | $46,674 |
| 8 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 126 | $27,227 |
| 9 | De Anza College Cupertino Public | 121 | Not reported |
| 10 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | 110 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 165 California colleges offering Mathematics
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mathematicians (SOC 15-2021).
Top skills
What Mathematicians earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mathematics programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Mathematics degrees?+
University of California-San Diego (234 graduates a year), University of California-Los Angeles (196 graduates a year) and Los Angeles Pierce College (179 graduates a year) award the most Mathematics degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 175 California colleges offer Mathematics.
What is the best college for Mathematics in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads among bachelor's Mathematics programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,136, College Scorecard. University of California-San Diego and Pomona College follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-San Diego is the largest, with 234 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mathematics program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $53,136. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mathematicians earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Mathematicians in California is $129,110 (median $126,710), across about 250 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Mathematics program?+
The Mathematics program encompasses a broad range of topics related to abstract concepts such as numbers, geometric shapes, and functions. It is designed for students interested in exploring logical reasoning and proof to understand and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop mathematics, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Mathematicians?+
The national job outlook is about -0.7% growth with around 100 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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