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Best Value Degrees in California (2026)

Top 100 of 1749 programs in California · Updated 2026

The best college programs in California, ranked by overall value. We scored 1749 programs across California schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $85,129/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in CA

1,749

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$85,129/yr

Avg DW Score

85/100

#1 Program

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration

California State University-Stanislaus

Top Programs in California

Top 100 programs by DegreeWorth Score. Click any row for full analysis.

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA	91 88–91	$119,356/yr	High	38.2x
2	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA	91 87–91	$93,142/yr	High	34.7x
3	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Chico · Chico, CA	91 88–91	$113,181/yr	High	36.4x
4	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA	91 88–91	$110,626/yr	High	42.5x
5	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA	91 88–91	$96,890/yr	High	39.6x
6	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA	91 88–91	$103,028/yr	High	40.1x
7	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-East Bay · Hayward, CA	91 88–92	$124,392/yr	High	56.0x
8	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA	91 88–91	$100,178/yr	High	39.6x
9	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA	91 88–91	$98,811/yr	High	43.1x
10	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA	91 88–91	$106,780/yr	High	41.1x
11	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA	91 88–91	$116,001/yr	High	44.6x
12	Computer and Information Sciences, General University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA	91 86–92	$136,099/yr	Very High	38.8x
13	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration San Diego State University · San Diego, CA	91 87–91	$100,221/yr	High	32.1x
14	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA	91 88–91	$117,532/yr	High	47.6x
15	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA	91 88–91	$125,646/yr	High	39.1x
16	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA	91 87–91	$103,799/yr	High	33.2x
17	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Monterey Bay · Seaside, CA	91 88–91	$117,088/yr	High	43.4x
18	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA	91 88–91	$103,484/yr	High	39.7x
19	Computer Science University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA	90 85–92	$149,866/yr	Very High	36.9x
20	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA	90 86–90	$94,611/yr	High	21.5x
21	Computer Science University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA	90 84–91	$112,006/yr	Very High	25.3x
22	Computer Science California State University-Chico · Chico, CA	89 82–90	$81,021/yr	Very High	37.8x
23	Computer and Information Sciences, General University of California-Davis · Davis, CA	89 83–90	$84,343/yr	Very High	22.5x
24	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA	89 86–89	$87,715/yr	High	19.8x
25	Computer Science University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA	89 83–91	$107,776/yr	Very High	23.3x
26	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration National University · San Diego, CA	89 86–89	$99,714/yr	High	19.3x
27	Computer Science University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA	88 81–90	$82,161/yr	Very High	22.3x
28	Computer Science San Diego State University · San Diego, CA	88 81–89	$74,523/yr	Very High	33.5x
29	Computer Engineering California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA	87 82–89	$111,560/yr	Very High	32.0x
30	Business Administration University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA	87 83–87	$90,008/yr	High	23.4x
31	Computer Science University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA	87 79–88	$75,150/yr	Very High	19.8x
32	Computer Science Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA	87 80–88	$66,481/yr	Very High	44.0x
33	Construction Management California State University-Chico · Chico, CA	86 83–87	$89,075/yr	High	35.2x
34	Computer Engineering California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA	86 79–87	$75,101/yr	Very High	46.0x
35	Computer Engineering California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA	86 79–88	$79,809/yr	Very High	37.8x
36	Computer Science California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA	86 79–87	$62,821/yr	Very High	39.1x
37	Accounting and Related Services California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA	86 83–88	$68,904/yr	Very High	30.8x
38	Computer Engineering University of California-Davis · Davis, CA	86 80–88	$96,418/yr	Very High	23.0x
39	Computer Engineering University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA	86 80–88	$96,256/yr	Very High	24.3x
40	Computer Engineering University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA	86 80–87	$91,387/yr	Very High	22.4x
41	Computer Science California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA	85 78–86	$60,740/yr	Very High	35.1x
42	Computer Science California State University-East Bay · Hayward, CA	85 78–86	$60,371/yr	Very High	38.6x
43	Computer Science California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA	85 78–86	$60,028/yr	Very High	34.5x
44	Computer Engineering University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA	85 79–87	$79,969/yr	Very High	22.7x
45	Computer Science California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA	85 78–86	$60,645/yr	Very High	34.6x
46	Computer Science California State University-Monterey Bay · Seaside, CA	85 79–87	$71,458/yr	Very High	28.1x
47	Computer Science California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA	85 78–86	$59,374/yr	Very High	43.0x
48	Business Administration California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA	84 79–84	$71,876/yr	High	22.2x
49	Computer Engineering California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA	84 78–86	$70,768/yr	Very High	33.3x
50	Computer Science California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA	84 77–85	$57,307/yr	Very High	37.5x
51	Computer Science California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA	84 77–85	$60,378/yr	Very High	32.2x
52	Economics University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA	84 80–85	$80,446/yr	Very High	20.2x
53	Computer Engineering University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA	84 77–86	$79,812/yr	Very High	19.2x
54	Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA	84 80–85	$66,099/yr	Very High	15.5x
55	Computer Science National University · San Diego, CA	84 76–85	$87,383/yr	Very High	14.8x
56	Accounting and Related Services San Diego State University · San Diego, CA	84 81–86	$57,157/yr	Very High	28.2x
57	Accounting and Related Services California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA	84 81–86	$63,366/yr	Very High	25.3x
58	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration American University of Health Sciences · Signal Hill, CA	84 81–85	$94,816/yr	High	11.4x
59	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration West Coast University-Orange County · Anaheim, CA	84 81–84	$95,859/yr	High	11.2x
60	Accounting and Related Services California State University-Chico · Chico, CA	83 80–85	$60,606/yr	Very High	23.9x
61	Allied Health Diagnostic California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA	83 81–83	$100,724/yr	Moderate	36.4x
62	Computer Engineering California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA	83 77–85	$66,266/yr	Very High	34.4x
63	Computer and Information Sciences, General University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA	83 76–84	$53,517/yr	Very High	20.5x
64	Accounting and Related Services San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA	83 80–85	$60,607/yr	Very High	26.9x
65	Finance and Financial Management Services San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA	83 81–85	$62,778/yr	Very High	25.0x
66	Finance and Financial Management Services California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA	83 80–84	$54,408/yr	Very High	27.2x
67	Computer Science California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA	82 75–83	$53,566/yr	Very High	31.6x
68	Computer and Information Sciences, General California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA	82 76–83	$55,931/yr	Very High	27.9x
69	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Pacific Union College · Angwin, CA	82 79–82	$119,258/yr	High	8.9x
70	Computer and Information Sciences, General San Diego State University · San Diego, CA	82 76–83	$54,244/yr	Very High	25.3x
71	Computer Science San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA	82 75–83	$50,553/yr	Very High	36.7x
72	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Chamberlain University-California · Rancho Cordova, CA	82 78–82	$83,188/yr	High	10.3x
73	Computer and Information Sciences, General California State University-Chico · Chico, CA	81 75–82	$49,967/yr	Very High	27.1x
74	Computer Engineering California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA	81 75–82	$55,093/yr	Very High	39.0x
75	Accounting and Related Services California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA	81 78–83	$54,315/yr	Very High	27.0x
76	Computer Engineering University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA	81 76–83	$65,049/yr	Very High	19.8x
77	Computer/Information Technology Administration University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA	81 75–82	$55,773/yr	Very High	17.7x
78	Computer and Information Sciences, General San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA	81 75–82	$52,288/yr	Very High	26.8x
79	Computer Science Stanford University · Stanford, CA	81 76–83	$138,613/yr	Very High	8.9x
80	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Azusa Pacific University · Azusa, CA	80 76–80	$105,521/yr	High	5.8x
81	Economics California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA	80 77–81	$67,501/yr	Very High	19.2x
82	Construction Engineering California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA	80 77–81	$90,836/yr	High	41.0x
83	Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA	80 76–81	$60,973/yr	Very High	13.1x
84	Economics University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA	80 77–81	$66,334/yr	Very High	17.0x
85	Business Administration California State University Maritime Academy · Vallejo, CA	80 74–81	$57,265/yr	High	26.3x
86	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Dominican University of California · San Rafael, CA	80 77–80	$97,762/yr	High	6.4x
87	Computer Science Harvey Mudd College · Claremont, CA	80 75–81	$132,265/yr	Very High	7.3x
88	Allied Health Diagnostic National University · San Diego, CA	80 79–80	$92,748/yr	Moderate	19.3x
89	Computer Engineering San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA	80 74–82	$53,180/yr	Very High	36.4x
90	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA	80 76–80	$101,731/yr	High	5.4x
91	Economics Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA	80 76–81	$53,825/yr	Very High	29.7x
92	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Vanguard University of Southern California · Costa Mesa, CA	80 76–80	$102,915/yr	High	6.1x
93	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration West Coast University-Los Angeles · North Hollywood, CA	80 76–80	$95,859/yr	High	6.4x
94	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration West Coast University-Ontario · Ontario, CA	80 76–80	$95,859/yr	High	6.4x
95	Electrical University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA	79 75–80	$137,295/yr	Very High	39.5x
96	Economics University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA	79 75–80	$62,091/yr	Very High	17.3x
97	Mechanical Engineering California State University Maritime Academy · Vallejo, CA	79 75–80	$92,315/yr	Very High	36.4x
98	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Concordia University-Irvine · Irvine, CA	79 76–79	$102,324/yr	High	5.6x
99	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Mount Saint Mary's University · Los Angeles, CA	79 76–79	$99,457/yr	High	5.1x
100	Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Point Loma Nazarene University · San Diego, CA	79 75–79	$97,296/yr	High	5.2x

Methodology

This ranking includes the top 100 programs at California colleges and universities, drawn from 1749 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college program in California?

By DegreeWorth Score, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at California State University-Stanislaus ranks #1 in California with a score of 91/100 and graduate earnings of $119,356/yr.

How many college programs are in California?

Our database includes 1749 programs across California colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.