Best Mathematics Colleges in California (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 34 schools in California that offer Mathematics by the median earnings of Mathematics graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of California-Berkeley leads the list with median earnings of $114,800 four years after completing.
Across the 32 schools with a published figure, earnings range from $114,800 to $28,236, with a median of $70,469.
Public institutions account for 27 of the 34 listed schools, alongside 7 private nonprofits. California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price at $3,967.
University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Mathematics Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $114,800 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley reports $114,800 in median earnings of Mathematics graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 11%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Applied Mathematics (254 graduates), Statistics (123 graduates), Mathematics (96 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Statistics ($133,986), Applied Mathematics ($118,414), Mathematics ($80,654) | |||||
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $104,249 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| With median earnings of $104,249 four years after completing, University of California-Los Angeles ranks 2nd on this list and shows a six-year completion rate of 93%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Applied Mathematics (347 graduates), Statistics (228 graduates), Mathematics (193 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Statistics ($109,017), Applied Mathematics ($103,887), Mathematics ($99,269) | |||||
| 3 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $98,157 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, University of Southern California posts median earnings of $98,157 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Applied Mathematics (147 graduates), Mathematics (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Applied Mathematics ($101,094) | |||||
| 4 | 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 Mathematics graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (71 graduates), Applied Mathematics (43 graduates) | |||||
| 5 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $95,925 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 83%, University of California-Santa Barbara shows median earnings of $95,925 four years after completing a Mathematics degree. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Statistics (291 graduates), Applied Mathematics (215 graduates), Mathematics (132 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Applied Mathematics ($109,360), Statistics ($90,778), Mathematics ($85,391) | |||||
| 6 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | No published median | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
| Santa Clara University ranks 6th on this list and reports an average net price of $22,985 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (28 graduates) | |||||
| 7 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $90,418 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo posts median earnings of $90,418 four years after completing and an admission rate of 31%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (62 graduates), Statistics (41 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($83,187) | |||||
| 8 | Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA | $88,080 | $38,263 | $20,705 | 44.2% |
| Occidental College reports an average net price of $38,263 and a six-year completion rate of 81%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (11 graduates) | |||||
| 9 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $83,325 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $83,325 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (239 graduates), Applied Mathematics (146 graduates), Statistics (56 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Applied Mathematics ($85,233), Mathematics ($79,015) | |||||
| 10 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $82,156 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
| An average net price of $7,945 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with an admission rate of 91% at University of California-Merced. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Applied Mathematics (36 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $80,055 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
| California State University-Fullerton reports median earnings of $80,055 four years after completing and an average net price of $6,555. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (75 graduates) | |||||
| 12 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $79,222 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
| University of California-Davis shows a six-year completion rate of 86% and median earnings of $79,222 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Statistics (239 graduates), Applied Mathematics (107 graduates), Mathematics (97 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Statistics ($88,033), Mathematics ($72,640), Applied Mathematics ($65,508) | |||||
| 13 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $77,891 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| California State University-Chico reports median earnings of $77,891 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, and ranks 91st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($77,891) | |||||
| 14 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $77,472 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 87%, University of California-Irvine admits 29% of applicants and shows an average net price of $14,251. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (312 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($77,472) | |||||
| 15 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $71,323 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
| San Francisco State University ranks 15th on this list and posts a 96% admission rate alongside an average net price of $12,278. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (22 graduates), Applied Mathematics (12 graduates), Statistics (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($71,323) | |||||
| 16 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $70,677 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
| California State University-Los Angeles carries the lowest average net price on the page at $3,967 and ranks 3rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (40 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA | $70,628 | $9,849 | $6,857 | 94.8% |
| An average net price of $6,857 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median earnings of $70,628 for Mathematics graduates four years after completing at California State University-Channel Islands. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (36 graduates) | |||||
| 18 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $70,310 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| San Diego State University admits 36% of applicants and graduates 76% of its students within six years, while its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $70,310 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Applied Mathematics (42 graduates), Statistics (38 graduates), Mathematics (37 graduates) | |||||
| 19 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $68,900 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills ranks 19th on this list with median earnings of $68,900 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 43%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (32 graduates) | |||||
| 20 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $66,352 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
| University of California-Riverside shows an average net price of $14,304 and a 76% admission rate, and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $66,352 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (185 graduates), Statistics (42 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($63,596) | |||||
| 21 | California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA | $65,184 | $6,067 | $3,938 | 98.1% |
| California State University-Stanislaus graduates 53% of its students within six years and reports an average net price of $3,938 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (26 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $64,913 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
| Sonoma State University ranks 22nd on this list and reports median earnings of $64,913 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, alongside a 93% admission rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (18 graduates), Statistics (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($64,913) | |||||
| 23 | California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, CA | $64,470 | $5,652 | $3,536 | 93.9% |
| California State University-Bakersfield posts an average net price of $5,652 and a six-year completion rate of 50%, while its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $64,470 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (42 graduates) | |||||
| 24 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $63,077 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| Ranking 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, California State University-Northridge reports median earnings of $63,077 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($63,077) | |||||
| 25 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $63,059 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona reports median earnings of $63,059 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $11,531. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (92 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($63,059) | |||||
| 26 | California State University-Monterey Bay · Seaside, CA | $62,943 | $13,663 | $9,970 | 97.4% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 59%, California State University-Monterey Bay ranks 26th on this list and posts an average net price of $13,663. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (21 graduates), Statistics (6 graduates) | |||||
| 27 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $61,754 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
| California State University-Long Beach admits 46% of applicants and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $61,754 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (136 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($61,754) | |||||
| 28 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $59,214 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
| University of California-Santa Cruz ranks 109th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $59,214 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (116 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($59,214) | |||||
| 29 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $59,162 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
| California State University-Sacramento reports an average net price of $6,501 for families earning under $30,000, and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $59,162 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (73 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($59,162) | |||||
| 30 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $57,603 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
| An average net price of $4,564 coincides with an Azimuth composite rank of 43rd among nonprofit four-year institutions at California State University-San Bernardino. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (79 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mathematics ($57,603) | |||||
| 31 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $55,664 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
| California State University-Fresno graduates 57% of its students within six years, and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $55,664 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (45 graduates) | |||||
| 32 | Pomona College · Claremont, CA | No published median | $19,285 | $4,841 | 7.1% |
| Pomona College, a private nonprofit institution in Claremont, admits 7% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 93%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (31 graduates) | |||||
| 33 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $35,060 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
| Chapman University reports median earnings of $35,060 for its Mathematics graduates two years after completing, alongside an average net price of $46,555. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (6 graduates) | |||||
| 34 | University of Redlands · Redlands, CA | $28,236 | $30,031 | $28,287 | 82.7% |
| University of Redlands ranks 651st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $28,236 two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mathematics (18 graduates) | |||||
* 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
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Mathematics graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Mathematics earnings cohort in California appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 3 of the 34 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 32 schools with a published figure. University of California-Berkeley leads University of California-Los Angeles by $10,551, and the spread from top to bottom reaches $86,564.
Job market context in California
Mathematics graduates in California enter occupations such as Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, Data Scientists, and Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary. Across those occupations the median annual wage is $107,122, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $82,060. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 10.1% higher, with 31,600 projected openings a year, or about 592 openings a year for every hundred graduates, suggesting more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of Mathematics graduates four years after completing, which is a different measure from the occupation-wide wage figures shown here.
Related rankings
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- Best Mathematics Colleges in Wisconsin
- Mathematics Colleges in California for Social Mobility