Liberal Arts programs in California produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $19,592 to $55,485. Across 35 programs, the variation in outcomes demonstrates why program selection matters significantly for career trajectories, with California graduates earning $8,181 higher than the national average.
Leading the list is Loyola Marymount University with the highest program earnings of $55,485. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo follows closely at $55,078, while Saint Mary's College Of California rounds out the top three at $53,489. These top-performing programs demonstrate strong graduate outcomes that justify their positioning in the rankings, with public universities representing 66% of all ranked institutions.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | Los Angeles, CA | $55,485 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $30,208 | 40.3% | 79.8% |
| #2 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $55,078 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $6,476 | 29.8% | 85.2% | |
| #3 | Moraga, CA | $53,489 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $17,981 | 88.6% | 69.0% | |
| #4 | Riverside, CA | $53,198 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $8,240 | 63.3% | 76.6% | |
| #5 | Bakersfield, CA | $52,770 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $3,070 | 88.2% | 49.3% | |
| #6 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | Rohnert Park, CA | $51,305 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $9,406 | 94.7% | 60.5% |
| #7 | Turlock, CA | $50,537 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $3,218 | 97.5% | 58.0% | |
| #8 | Hayward, CA | $50,433 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $8,059 | 96.8% | 45.5% | |
| #9 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $50,096 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $17,414 | 88.9% | 74.0% | |
| #10 | Azusa Pacific UniversityPrivate | Azusa, CA | $50,055 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $17,839 | 79.5% | 64.4% |
| #11 | Fullerton, CA | $49,653 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $2,675 | 86.7% | 69.2% | |
| #12 | San Francisco, CA | $49,182 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $9,307 | 96.2% | 50.1% | |
| #13 | Northridge, CA | $48,865 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $5,153 | 93.2% | 56.2% | |
| #14 | San Diego, CA | $48,538 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $9,655 | 34.4% | 78.3% | |
| #15 | San Bernardino, CA | $47,796 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $3,298 | 98.3% | 54.6% | |
| #16 | University Of La VernePrivate | La Verne, CA | $47,665 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $26,754 | 48.5% | 65.5% |
| #17 | Sacramento, CA | $46,959 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $7,306 | 93.6% | 55.8% | |
| #18 | Seaside, CA | $46,794 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $9,654 | 94.8% | 63.2% | |
| #19 | Long Beach, CA | $46,751 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $5,477 | 47.1% | 69.9% | |
| #20 | Camarillo, CA | $46,560 Median Liberal Arts Earnings | $7,077 | 93.1% | 53.4% |
