Top 50 Best Bachelor's Degree Programs in California by ROI

Every Bachelor's Degree program in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in California

1778

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$1,105

Across all California programs

Average Annual Cost

$38,383

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	California Institute of Technology Grad rate: 93.6%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$3,891,708	$253,305	$83,598	N/A	Full ROI →
2	University of California-Berkeley Grad rate: 93.5%	Computer Science.	+$2,198,383	$161,399	$42,708	$13,900	Full ROI →
3	University of California-Berkeley Grad rate: 93.5%	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.	+$2,182,998	$160,666	$42,708	$14,437	Full ROI →
4	Stanford University Grad rate: 94.0%	Computer Science.	+$2,124,813	$165,375	$82,162	$10,399	Full ROI →
5	Harvey Mudd College Grad rate: 92.9%	Mathematics and Computer Science.	+$2,112,046	$166,134	$84,896	$23,000	Full ROI →
6	Harvey Mudd College Grad rate: 92.9%	Computer Science.	+$1,982,574	$159,657	$84,896	$22,949	Full ROI →
7	University of California-Los Angeles Grad rate: 92.6%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$1,949,683	$147,842	$36,643	$15,248	Full ROI →
8	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Grad rate: 85.3%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$1,917,308	$143,849	$29,918	N/A	Full ROI →
9	Stanford University Grad rate: 94.0%	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.	+$1,916,372	$154,251	$82,162	N/A	Full ROI →
10	University of the Pacific Grad rate: 70.5%	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.	+$1,794,723	$146,417	$68,173	$15,500	Full ROI →
11	Stanford University Grad rate: 94.0%	Engineering-Related Fields.	+$1,663,952	$141,630	$82,162	N/A	Full ROI →
12	California State University-East Bay Grad rate: 45.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,601,706	$127,920	$22,803	$18,875	Full ROI →
13	Samuel Merritt University	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,562,090	$121,792	N/A	$25,000	Full ROI →
14	Santa Clara University Grad rate: 88.5%	Computer Engineering.	+$1,436,648	$131,051	$77,768	$24,666	Full ROI →
15	San Francisco State University Grad rate: 52.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,415,226	$118,952	$25,258	$16,875	Full ROI →
16	Sonoma State University Grad rate: 60.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,398,201	$118,191	$24,739	$19,750	Full ROI →
17	Loma Linda University	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.	+$1,393,940	$111,697	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
18	Fresno Pacific University Grad rate: 53.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,372,268	$119,148	$42,673	N/A	Full ROI →
19	California State University-Sacramento Grad rate: 55.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,325,254	$114,088	$22,714	$19,000	Full ROI →
20	San Jose State University Grad rate: 66.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,301,360	$112,207	$25,695	N/A	Full ROI →
21	Northeastern University Oakland	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$1,288,948	$108,000	N/A	$23,001	Full ROI →
22	California State University-Monterey Bay Grad rate: 62.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,256,781	$110,683	$26,017	$9,489	Full ROI →
23	University of San Francisco Grad rate: 72.8%	Computer Science.	+$1,255,586	$121,602	$76,421	$22,792	Full ROI →
24	Dominican University of California Grad rate: 77.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,230,750	$119,084	$68,620	$27,000	Full ROI →
25	University of California-Los Angeles Grad rate: 92.6%	Computer Engineering.	+$1,228,928	$111,727	$36,643	$14,103	Full ROI →
26	Pacific College Grad rate: 75.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,156,928	$105,513	$28,333	N/A	Full ROI →
27	California State University-Stanislaus Grad rate: 56.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,148,914	$104,737	$18,542	$23,450	Full ROI →
28	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Grad rate: 85.3%	Computer Engineering.	+$1,148,537	$106,798	$29,918	$20,556	Full ROI →
29	American University of Health Sciences	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,119,023	$101,194	N/A	$48,042	Full ROI →
30	California State University-Dominguez Hills Grad rate: 46.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,109,791	$101,845	$15,449	$18,750	Full ROI →
31	University of California-San Diego Grad rate: 87.7%	Computer Science.	+$1,097,257	$105,245	$36,325	$16,550	Full ROI →
32	San Jose State University Grad rate: 66.2%	Computer Engineering.	+$1,090,860	$101,682	$25,695	N/A	Full ROI →
33	California State University-Dominguez Hills Grad rate: 46.7%	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.	+$1,089,355	$100,916	$15,449	$20,125	Full ROI →
34	Pacific Union College Grad rate: 48.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,085,774	$107,830	$47,244	$31,000	Full ROI →
35	California State University Maritime Academy Grad rate: 64.9%	Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians.	+$1,073,633	$102,821	$27,138	$25,359	Full ROI →
36	University of San Francisco Grad rate: 72.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,070,726	$112,643	$76,421	$27,000	Full ROI →
37	San Jose State University Grad rate: 66.2%	Computer Science.	+$1,069,780	$100,628	$25,695	N/A	Full ROI →
38	University of California-Davis Grad rate: 85.7%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$1,062,331	$103,694	$38,067	$14,282	Full ROI →
39	Santa Clara University Grad rate: 88.5%	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.	+$1,044,688	$109,788	$77,768	N/A	Full ROI →
40	California State University-Northridge Grad rate: 56.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,022,432	$98,535	$20,317	$20,000	Full ROI →
41	University of California-Berkeley Grad rate: 93.5%	Applied Mathematics.	+$1,020,320	$102,543	$42,708	$14,598	Full ROI →
42	Loma Linda University	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,004,579	$94,365	N/A	$31,645	Full ROI →
43	University of California-Los Angeles Grad rate: 92.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$991,748	$100,320	$36,643	$20,800	Full ROI →
44	University of California-San Diego Grad rate: 87.7%	Computer Engineering.	+$982,329	$99,630	$36,325	$18,497	Full ROI →
45	University of Southern California Grad rate: 92.2%	Computer Science.	+$979,467	$109,271	$84,678	$20,178	Full ROI →
46	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Grad rate: 85.3%	Construction Engineering Technologies.	+$963,368	$96,152	$29,918	N/A	Full ROI →
47	California State University-Fullerton Grad rate: 69.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$962,495	$94,651	$16,767	$17,375	Full ROI →
48	National University Grad rate: 44.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$961,816	$97,514	$37,116	N/A	Full ROI →
49	Sonoma State University Grad rate: 60.1%	Computer Science.	+$961,812	$96,409	$24,739	$20,305	Full ROI →
50	California State University-Chico Grad rate: 63.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$960,031	$96,478	$25,590	$20,125	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.