Best Colleges in California by Salary Potential
California has more colleges and universities than any other state. Find out which schools are the state’s best four-year colleges by earning potential.
| Rank | School Name | School Type | Early Career Pay | Mid-Career Pay | % High Meaning | % STEM Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:26 | School Name: California Institute of Integral Studies | School Type:Private School, Research University | Early Career Pay:$75,000 | Mid-Career Pay:$136,000 | % High Meaning:- | % STEM Degrees:0% |
| Rank:27 | School Name: California College of the Arts | School Type:Art, Private School | Early Career Pay:$80,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$135,700 | % High Meaning:49% | % STEM Degrees:8% |
| Rank:28 | School Name: California State University-Chico | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$71,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$135,300 | % High Meaning:50% | % STEM Degrees:14% |
| Rank:29 | School Name:_50px.png) University of California-Santa Cruz | School Type:Research University, State School | Early Career Pay:$75,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$134,900 | % High Meaning:51% | % STEM Degrees:45% |
| Rank:30 | School Name: University of the Pacific | School Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans | Early Career Pay:$75,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$134,800 | % High Meaning:61% | % STEM Degrees:20% |
| Rank:31 | School Name: Art Center College of Design | School Type:Art, Private School | Early Career Pay:$80,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$133,800 | % High Meaning:41% | % STEM Degrees:8% |
| Rank:32 | School Name: Golden Gate University | School Type:Business, Private School | Early Career Pay:$69,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$133,700 | % High Meaning:51% | % STEM Degrees:3% |
| Rank:33 | School Name:Southern California Institute of Architecture | School Type:Private School | Early Career Pay:$69,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$132,900 | % High Meaning:- | % STEM Degrees:0% |
| Rank:34 | School Name:_50px.png) University of California-Riverside | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$70,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$132,200 | % High Meaning:53% | % STEM Degrees:36% |
| Rank:35 | School Name: Whittier College | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School | Early Career Pay:$66,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$129,900 | % High Meaning:51% | % STEM Degrees:14% |
| Rank:36 | School Name: University of Redlands | School Type:Private School | Early Career Pay:$69,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$128,800 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:6% |
| Rank:37 | School Name:_50px.png) California Lutheran University | School Type:Private School, Religious | Early Career Pay:$64,200 | Mid-Career Pay:$127,900 | % High Meaning:50% | % STEM Degrees:13% |
| Rank:38 | School Name: - Main Campus_50px.png) San Diego State University | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$71,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$127,700 | % High Meaning:50% | % STEM Degrees:18% |
| Rank:39 | School Name: Pepperdine University | School Type:Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports Fans | Early Career Pay:$75,100 | Mid-Career Pay:$126,400 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:4% |
| Rank:40 | School Name:Pitzer College | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School | Early Career Pay:$69,700 | Mid-Career Pay:$125,700 | % High Meaning:55% | % STEM Degrees:18% |
| Rank:41 | School Name:_50px.jpg) California State University-Long Beach | School Type:For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$67,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$125,000 | % High Meaning:50% | % STEM Degrees:17% |
| Rank:42 | School Name:_50px.png) California State University-East Bay | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$74,000 | Mid-Career Pay:$124,600 | % High Meaning:57% | % STEM Degrees:13% |
| Rank:43 | School Name: Sonoma State University | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$68,100 | Mid-Career Pay:$123,500 | % High Meaning:55% | % STEM Degrees:12% |
| Rank:44 | School Name:_50px.png) California State University-Fresno | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$64,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$123,200 | % High Meaning:58% | % STEM Degrees:11% |
| Rank:45 | School Name: Mount Saint Mary's University | School Type:Private School, Religious | Early Career Pay:$73,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$122,700 | % High Meaning:58% | % STEM Degrees:2% |
| Rank:46 | School Name:_50px.jpg) San Francisco State University | School Type:Research University, State School | Early Career Pay:$73,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$122,500 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:17% |
| Rank:47 | School Name: Biola University | School Type:Private School, Religious, Research University | Early Career Pay:$65,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$122,300 | % High Meaning:62% | % STEM Degrees:8% |
| Rank:48 | School Name:_50px.jpg) California State University-Fullerton | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$64,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$122,100 | % High Meaning:50% | % STEM Degrees:14% |
| Rank:49 | School Name:California State University-Monterey Bay | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$64,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$121,700 | % High Meaning:53% | % STEM Degrees:15% |
| Rank:50 | School Name: Loma Linda University | School Type:Private School, Religious | Early Career Pay:$85,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$121,300 | % High Meaning:87% | % STEM Degrees:3% |
