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# Best Economics Programs in California (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

This page ranks 42 Economics programs in California by the median earnings of Economics graduates four years after completing. [Claremont McKenna College](/school/claremont-mckenna-college/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, with median earnings of $146,524 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $146,524 to $20,373, with a median of $77,206. For 4 of the 42 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 29 of the programs and private nonprofits for 13. California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $3,967.

University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

42 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Claremont McKenna College · Claremont, CA | $146,524 | $28,849 | $15,308 | 9.6% |
|  | [Claremont McKenna College](/school/claremont-mckenna-college/majors/) ranks 1st on this list with [median earnings of $146,524](/school/claremont-mckenna-college/outcomes/) for its Economics graduates four years after completing, and an admission rate of 10%. |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $135,050 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) posts an [average net price of $13,481](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/cost/) and median federal debt of $12,650 among Economics completers who borrowed. |
| 3 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $121,307 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Santa Clara, reports [median earnings of $121,307](/school/santa-clara-university/outcomes/) for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | $112,700 | $13,807 | \-$2,536\* | 3.6% |
|  | [Stanford University](/school/stanford-university/majors/) [admits 4% of applicants](/school/stanford-university/admissions/) and its Economics graduates earn a median of $112,700 four years after completing. |
| 5 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $104,943 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 62.9% |
|  | [Pepperdine University](/school/pepperdine-university/majors/) ranks 5th on this list, with [median federal debt of $24,250](/school/pepperdine-university/cost/) among Economics completers who borrowed and an average net price of $58,098. |
| 6 | Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA | $103,164 | $38,263 | $20,705 | 44.2% |
|  | Occidental College reports median earnings of $103,164 for its Economics graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 44%. |
| 7 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $98,927 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | Median federal debt among Economics completers who borrowed is $17,500 at [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/), which ranks 7th on this list. |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $98,178 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
|  | [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/) posts [median earnings of $98,178](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/outcomes/) for its Economics graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $16,109. |
| 9 | Pomona College · Claremont, CA | $96,702 | $19,285 | $4,841 | 7.1% |
|  | [Pomona College](/school/pomona-college/majors/) [admits 7% of applicants](/school/pomona-college/admissions/) and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $11,782 in federal loans. |
| 10 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $95,440 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) ranks 10th on this list, reporting [median earnings of $95,440](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/outcomes/) for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 11 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $94,435 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | An [average net price of $32,740](/school/university-of-southern-california/cost/) coincides with median earnings of $94,435 for Economics graduates four years after completing at [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/). |
| 12 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $93,712 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
|  | [University of San Francisco](/school/university-of-san-francisco/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $21,500](/school/university-of-san-francisco/cost/) among Economics completers who borrowed, and an admission rate of 62%. |
| 13 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $88,682 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
|  | [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $88,682](/school/loyola-marymount-university/outcomes/) for its Economics graduates four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $20,125 among Economics completers who borrowed. |
| 14 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $87,307 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) [admits 27% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/admissions/) and ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 15 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $83,937 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | Median earnings for [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/)'s Economics graduates four years after completing reach $83,937, and the school posts an [average net price of $14,251](/school/university-of-california-irvine/cost/). |
| 16 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $83,668 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
|  | [Sonoma State University](/school/sonoma-state-university/majors/) ranks 16th on this list, with [median earnings of $83,668](/school/sonoma-state-university/outcomes/) for its Economics graduates four years after completing and a cohort of 31 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 17 | California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA | $83,339 | $10,229 | $6,230 | 95.1% |
|  | [California State University-San Marcos](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/majors/) carries an [average net price of $6,230](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and a median federal debt of $18,620 among Economics completers who borrowed. |
| 18 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $83,248 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) [ranks 18th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-california-davis/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $83,248 for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $82,697 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
|  | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) [admits 96% of applicants](/school/san-francisco-state-university/admissions/) and shows median earnings of $82,697 for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 20 | University of the Pacific · Stockton, CA | $79,510 | $25,447 | $17,004 | 71.3% |
|  | [University of the Pacific](/school/university-of-the-pacific/majors/) reports [median earnings of $79,510](/school/university-of-the-pacific/outcomes/) for its Economics graduates four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $19,500 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. |
| 21 | California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, CA | $78,029 | $5,652 | $3,536 | 93.9% |
|  | [California State University-Bakersfield](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/majors/) posts an [average net price of $5,652](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/cost/) and a median federal debt of $16,600 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. |
| 22 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $76,382 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
|  | [University of California-Santa Cruz](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/) ranks 22nd on this list, with [median earnings of $76,382](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/outcomes/) for its Economics graduates four years after completing and a cohort of 162 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 23 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $74,123 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $9,910](/school/san-diego-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and a median federal debt of $15,250 among Economics completers who borrowed. |
| 24 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $72,890 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) [ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-northridge/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $72,890 for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 25 | California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA | $71,662 | $9,849 | $6,857 | 94.8% |
|  | Median earnings of $71,662 for Economics graduates four years after completing place [California State University-Channel Islands](/school/california-state-university-channel-islands/majors/) 25th on this list. |
| 26 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $71,595 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 91%](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/admissions/), [California State University-Fullerton](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/) reports median earnings of $71,595 for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 27 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $71,220 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | An [average net price of $7,183](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/)'s median earnings of $71,220 four years after completing. |
| 28 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $70,290 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | Ranking 28th on this list, [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) reports [median earnings of $70,290](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/outcomes/) four years after completing alongside 161 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 29 | California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA | $69,967 | $6,067 | $3,938 | 98.1% |
|  | A [median federal debt of $13,540](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/cost/) across all of [California State University-Stanislaus](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/majors/)'s borrowers who completed accompanies median earnings of $69,967 four years after completing. |
| 30 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $67,692 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
|  | Admitting 91% of applicants, [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/) reports [median earnings of $67,692](/school/university-of-california-merced/outcomes/) for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 31 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $67,675 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
|  | An [average net price of $14,480](/school/california-state-university-chico/cost/) accompanies [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/)'s median earnings of $67,675 for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 32 | California State University-East Bay · Hayward, CA | $67,155 | $9,320 | $6,360 | 97.4% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left [California State University-East Bay](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/majors/) with a [median of $16,544](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/outcomes/) in federal loans while its Economics graduates earn $67,155 four years after completing. |
| 33 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $66,749 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/) ranks 33rd on this list with an [average net price of $7,000](/school/california-state-university-fresno/cost/) and median earnings of $66,749 four years after completing. |
| 34 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $66,682 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
|  | Median earnings of $66,682 for Economics graduates four years after completing place [University of California-Riverside](/school/university-of-california-riverside/majors/) 34th on this list. |
| 35 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $61,175 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 98%](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/admissions/), [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) reports median earnings of $61,175 for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 36 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $61,084 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) posts a [median federal debt of $8,724](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/cost/) among Economics completers who borrowed and median earnings of $61,084 four years after completing. |
| 37 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $54,998 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 91%](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/admissions/), [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/majors/) posts an average net price of $3,967. |
| 38 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $54,060 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
|  | [California State University-San Bernardino](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/majors/) reports [median federal debt of $17,000](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/cost/) among Economics completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $54,060 four years after completing. |
| 39 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $50,856 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in San Diego, [University of San Diego](/school/university-of-san-diego/majors/) [ranks 437th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-san-diego/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 40 | Saint Mary's College of California · Moraga, CA | $41,193 | $30,378 | $19,462 | 86.5% |
|  | Saint Mary's College of California shows an average net price of $19,462 for families earning under $30,000 and a cohort of 15 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 41 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $38,289 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
|  | [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/majors/) [admits 85% of applicants](/school/san-jose-state-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $38,289 for its Economics graduates four years after completing. |
| 42 | University of Redlands · Redlands, CA | $20,373 | $30,031 | $28,287 | 82.7% |
|  | [University of Redlands](/school/university-of-redlands/majors/) ranks 42nd on this list, with [median earnings of $20,373](/school/university-of-redlands/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $30,031. |

\* 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 Economics graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figures represent federally aided Economics completers who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. For 4 of the 42 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 from $146,524 to $20,373 yields a spread of $126,151, and the gap between Claremont McKenna College and University of California-Berkeley is $11,474.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Economics Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-economics-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Top Economics Programs in Florida by Earnings](/rankings/best-economics-programs-in-florida/)
-   [Top Economics Programs in Georgia by Earnings](/rankings/best-economics-programs-in-georgia/)
-   [Best Economics Programs in Indiana](/rankings/best-economics-programs-in-indiana/)
-   [Top Economics Programs in Illinois by Earnings](/rankings/best-economics-programs-in-illinois/)