Best Colleges in California by ROI
Trying to find the best value in California? We ranked all 104 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. Stanford University comes out on top at 99/100 - here's how every school compares.
We scored all 104 California colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 64/100, on an average net price of $26,029 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is Stanford University at 99/100.
Graduates of Harvey Mudd College earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $138,687. The lightest price tag belongs to San Diego Christian College at $992 a year. The list below ranks every California college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.
Top 10 California Colleges by ROI Score
- 1Stanford UniversityStanford, CA · Private NonprofitNet price$13,807/yrMedian earnings$124,08099ROI
- 2University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · PublicNet price$13,481/yrMedian earnings$92,44697ROI
- 3California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · PublicNet price$16,665/yrMedian earnings$90,76896ROI
- 4University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · PublicNet price$12,548/yrMedian earnings$82,51196ROI
- 5University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · PublicNet price$12,470/yrMedian earnings$84,94396ROI
- 6University of California-DavisDavis, CA · PublicNet price$14,741/yrMedian earnings$80,83895ROI
- 7California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA · Private NonprofitNet price$16,075/yrMedian earnings$128,56694ROI
- 8University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA · PublicNet price$14,251/yrMedian earnings$80,73594ROI
- 9Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA · Private NonprofitNet price$28,849/yrMedian earnings$104,73692ROI
- 10Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, CA · Private NonprofitNet price$35,924/yrMedian earnings$138,68792ROI
California College ROI: Common Questions
What is the best-value college in California?
Stanford University has the highest ROI score in California at 99/100, while the lowest net price among California schools we track is $992/year at San Diego Christian College. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
How much does college cost in California?
The average net price across the 104 California colleges in our dataset is $26,029 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.
Which California college has the highest graduate earnings?
Harvey Mudd College reports the highest median earnings among California schools we scored, at $138,687 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.
How many colleges in California did CampusROI analyze?
We scored 104 colleges in California on return on investment. Of those, 68 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.
All California Schools by ROI Score
104 schools
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
California State University Maritime Academy
Vallejo, CA
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA
West Coast University-Orange County
Anaheim, CA
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA
California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
Scripps College
Claremont, CA
Gnomon
North Hollywood, CA
California State University-Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA
Menlo College
Atherton, CA
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA
West Coast University-Ontario
Ontario, CA
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA
West Coast University-Los Angeles
North Hollywood, CA
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
Los Angeles, CA
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA
Southern California Institute of Architecture
Los Angeles, CA
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, CA
Chapman University
Orange, CA
National University
San Diego, CA
Concordia University-Irvine
Irvine, CA
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA
Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, CA
Pacific Union College
Angwin, CA
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, CA
The Master's University and Seminary
Santa Clarita, CA
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, CA
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA
Whittier College
Whittier, CA
University of Massachusetts Global
Aliso Viejo, CA
San Diego Christian College
Santee, CA
Woodbury University
Burbank, CA
Biola University
La Mirada, CA
John Paul the Great Catholic University
Escondido, CA
William Jessup University
Rocklin, CA
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata, CA
Simpson University
Redding, CA
La Sierra University
Riverside, CA
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary
Los Angeles, CA
Newschool of Architecture and Design
San Diego, CA
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, CA
Shasta Bible College and Graduate School
Redding, CA
Hope International University
Fullerton, CA
Design Institute of San Diego
San Diego, CA
Providence Christian College
Pasadena, CA
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
Stockton, CA
Touro University Worldwide
Los Alamitos, CA
University of Silicon Valley
San Jose, CA
Life Pacific University
San Dimas, CA
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, CA
Los Angeles College of Music
Pasadena, CA
SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
El Dorado Hills, CA
California College of ASU
Los Angeles, CA
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, CA
California Aeronautical University
Bakersfield, CA
Ashford University
San Diego, CA
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release