Best colleges for Natural Sciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State University - Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University and California State University - San Bernardino award the most Natural Sciences degrees and certificates in California: 64, 53 and 5 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 California colleges offer Natural Sciences and award 134 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Natural Sciences program is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the study of natural phenomena. It encompasses various scientific disciplines, including both physical and life sciences, providing students with a comprehensive…
Top 2 institutions, 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 State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,870 | 64 | 53% | — | — |
| 2 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,647 | 53 | 79% | $36,488 | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Natural Sciences degrees in California
Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 64 | $39,870 |
| 2 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 53 | $33,647 |
| 3 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 5 | Pepperdine University Malibu Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 6 | California State University - Chico Chico Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 7 | California State University - Bakersfield Bakersfield Public | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121).
Top skills
What Natural Sciences Managers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Natural Sciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Natural Sciences degrees?+
California State University - Los Angeles (64 graduates a year), Loyola Marymount University (53 graduates a year) and California State University - San Bernardino (5 graduates a year) award the most Natural Sciences degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 California colleges offer Natural Sciences.
Which Natural Sciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State University - Los Angeles tops the list at $39,870. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Natural Sciences Managers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Natural Sciences Managers in California is $223,850 (median $210,230), across about 14,950 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Natural Sciences program?+
The Natural Sciences program is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the study of natural phenomena. It encompasses various scientific disciplines, including both physical and life sciences, providing students with a comprehensive…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, active listening, monitoring, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Natural Sciences Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.7% growth with around 8,500 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.
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