Best Applied Mathematics Programs in California (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Mathematics Colleges in California
This page ranks the 9 Applied Mathematics programs in California by median earnings of Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of California-Berkeley leads the list with median earnings of $118,414 four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $97,071, with a range from $118,414 to $65,508. For 1 of the 9 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 7 of the 9 schools, and private nonprofits for 2. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
University of California-Merced reports the lowest average net price on the list, at $11,983.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $118,414 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley ranks 1st on this list, reporting $118,414 in median earnings for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $109,360 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
| Median earnings of $109,360 four years after completing coincide with an average net price of $16,109 at University of California-Santa Barbara. | |||||
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $103,887 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| With an admission rate of 9%, University of California-Los Angeles reports $103,887 in median earnings for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $101,094 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| University of Southern California, a private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, shows median federal debt of $12,251 among Applied Mathematics completers who borrowed alongside median earnings of $101,094 four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | $97,071 | $13,807 | -$2,536* | 3.6% |
| Stanford University admits 4% of applicants and reports median earnings of $97,071 for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $85,233 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $85,233 for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $82,156 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
| An average net price of $11,983 and median earnings of $82,156 four years after completing are reported by University of California-Merced. | |||||
| 8 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $69,606 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| San Diego State University shows median federal debt of $23,793 among Applied Mathematics completers who borrowed and median earnings of $69,606 four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $65,508 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
| University of California-Davis reports median earnings of $65,508 for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $14,741. | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 9 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 9 schools with a published figure. University of California-Berkeley leads University of California-Santa Barbara by $9,054, and the spread from top to bottom reaches $52,906.
Related rankings
- Top Applied Mathematics Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in California
- Applied Mathematics Programs in New York
- Best Mathematics Colleges in California
- Mathematics Colleges in California for Social Mobility