[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/) # Best Applied Mathematics Programs in California (2026) Updated September 30, 2026 Part of [Best Mathematics Colleges in California](/rankings/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](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) 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 9 schools in list order | 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](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting [$118,414 in median earnings](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/cost/) at [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/). | | 3 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $103,887 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% | | | With an [admission rate of 9%](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/admissions/), [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) 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](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, shows [median federal debt of $12,251](/school/university-of-southern-california/cost/) 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](/school/stanford-university/majors/) [admits 4% of applicants](/school/stanford-university/admissions/) 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](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) [ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/) 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](/school/university-of-california-merced/cost/) and median earnings of $82,156 four years after completing are reported by [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/). | | 8 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $69,606 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% | | | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $23,793](/school/san-diego-state-university/cost/) 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](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) reports [median earnings of $65,508](/school/university-of-california-davis/outcomes/) 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](/rankings/best-applied-mathematics-programs/) - [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/) - Applied Mathematics Programs in New York - [Best Mathematics Colleges in California](/rankings/best-mathematics-colleges-in-california/) - Mathematics Colleges in California for Social Mobility