Best colleges for Physics in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, University of California-Los Angeles and University of California-Santa Barbara are the top bachelor's Physics programs in California by graduate earnings. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,045, College Scorecard. University of California-Santa Barbara, University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Los Angeles award the most Physics degrees in California: 180, 171 and 125 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 141 California colleges offer Physics and award 3,235 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Physics program focuses on the study of matter, energy, and the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses various specializations, including Atomic/Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Optics/Optical Sciences, making it suitable…
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 State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,045 | 23 | 68% | — | $23,000 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,495 | 125 | 93% | — | $21,100 |
| 3 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,597 | 180 | 83% | — | $15,982 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,219 | 171 | 93% | — | $15,508 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,951 | 110 | 86% | — | $16,800 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,144 | 113 | 87% | — | $15,000 |
| 7 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,057 | 41 | 69% | — | $23,229 |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,859 | 53 | 75% | — | $16,250 |
| 9 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,977 | 56 | 76% | — | $19,000 |
| 10 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $57,114 | 15 | 55% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Physics 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-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 180 | $53,597 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 171 | $50,219 |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 125 | $60,495 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 113 | $43,144 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 110 | $48,951 |
| 6 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 105 | Not reported |
| 7 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 95 | Not reported |
| 8 | Irvine Valley College Irvine Public | 78 | Not reported |
| 9 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena Private not-for-profit | 65 | Not reported |
| 10 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo Public | 57 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 131 California colleges offering Physics
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Physicists (SOC 19-2012).
Top skills
What Physicists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Physics programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Physics degrees?+
University of California-Santa Barbara (180 graduates a year), University of California-Berkeley (171 graduates a year) and University of California-Los Angeles (125 graduates a year) award the most Physics degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 141 California colleges offer Physics.
What is the best college for Physics in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads among bachelor's Physics programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,045, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles and University of California-Santa Barbara follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Santa Barbara is the largest, with 180 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Physics program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona tops the list at $64,045. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Physicists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Physicists in California is $201,930 (median $207,490), across about 5,930 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Physics program?+
The Physics program focuses on the study of matter, energy, and the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses various specializations, including Atomic/Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Optics/Optical Sciences, making it suitable…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, reading comprehension, mathematics, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Physicists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.0% growth with around 1,700 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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