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# Best Psychology, General Programs in California (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Psychology Colleges in California](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-california/)

This page ranks the 56 Psychology, General programs in California by median earnings of Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, highest first. [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $75,742 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $75,742 to $22,871, with a median of $53,042. For 2 of the 56 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list includes 26 public and 30 private nonprofit institutions. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the best on the page.

California State University-San Bernardino posts the lowest average net price, at $4,564.

## The ranked list

56 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $75,742 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) reports [$75,742 in median earnings](/school/santa-clara-university/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list. |
| 2 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $74,178 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
|  | [University of San Diego](/school/university-of-san-diego/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list, with an [admission rate of 52%](/school/university-of-san-diego/admissions/) and median earnings of $74,178 four years after completing. |
| 3 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $70,461 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | Median federal debt among Psychology, General completers who borrowed sits at $14,000 for [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/), which ranks 3rd on the page. |
| 4 | Saint Mary's College of California · Moraga, CA | $70,123 | $30,378 | $19,462 | 86.5% |
|  | Saint Mary's College of California ranks 4th on this list and posts an average net price of $30,378 alongside median earnings of $70,123 four years after completing. |
| 5 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $65,071 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
|  | [University of San Francisco](/school/university-of-san-francisco/majors/) shows a [median of $65,071](/school/university-of-san-francisco/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 150 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 6 | Azusa Pacific University · Azusa, CA | $63,963 | $22,212 | $15,781 | 88.4% |
|  | [Azusa Pacific University](/school/azusa-pacific-university/majors/) [admits 88% of applicants](/school/azusa-pacific-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $63,963 for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $63,617 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
|  | [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) ranks 7th on this list and its Psychology, General completers who borrowed left with a [median federal debt of $20,500](/school/chapman-university/cost/). |
| 8 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $61,353 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 62.9% |
|  | [Pepperdine University](/school/pepperdine-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $61,353](/school/pepperdine-university/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $58,098. |
| 9 | Dominican University of California · San Rafael, CA | $61,339 | $35,333 | $24,572 | 83.5% |
|  | Dominican University of California ranks 9th on this list and its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing earned a median of $61,339. |
| 10 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $61,103 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) sits 10th on the page, with a [median federal debt of $26,000](/school/california-baptist-university/cost/) among Psychology, General completers who borrowed. |
| 11 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $61,050 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) ranks 11th on this list and reports an [average net price of $12,548](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/cost/) alongside median earnings of $61,050 four years after completing. |
| 12 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $60,958 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
|  | [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) [admits 45% of applicants](/school/loyola-marymount-university/admissions/) and its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing earned a median of $60,958. |
| 13 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $60,466 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) reports [median earnings of $60,466](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $16,665. |
| 14 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $59,948 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
|  | [University of California-Santa Cruz](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/) [admits 66% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/admissions/) and its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing earn a median of $59,948. |
| 15 | California Lutheran University · Thousand Oaks, CA | $59,153 | $30,109 | $22,161 | 75.7% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Thousand Oaks, [California Lutheran University](/school/california-lutheran-university/majors/) ranks 15th on this list and shows [median federal debt of $23,000](/school/california-lutheran-university/cost/) among Psychology, General completers who borrowed. |
| 16 | Whittier College · Whittier, CA | $58,397 | $25,757 | $21,718 | 80.8% |
|  | Whittier College posts an average net price of $21,718 for families earning under $30,000, with a Psychology, General earnings cohort of 23 graduates. |
| 17 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $57,335 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
|  | [Sonoma State University](/school/sonoma-state-university/majors/) [ranks 199th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/sonoma-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $57,335 for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing. |
| 18 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $56,925 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
|  | [University of La Verne](/school/university-of-la-verne/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $23,250](/school/university-of-la-verne/cost/) among Psychology, General completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $56,925. |
| 19 | Simpson University · Redding, CA | $56,902 | $27,817 | $25,511 | 86.0% |
|  | Simpson University admits 86% of applicants and its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing earn a median of $56,902. |
| 20 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $56,380 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) reports an [average net price of $8,123](/school/university-of-california-irvine/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, and its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing earn a median of $56,380. |
| 21 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $55,902 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
|  | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) [ranks 51st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/san-francisco-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median federal debt of $15,000 among Psychology, General completers who borrowed. |
| 22 | University of Redlands · Redlands, CA | $55,739 | $30,031 | $28,287 | 82.7% |
|  | [University of Redlands](/school/university-of-redlands/majors/) posts [median earnings of $55,739](/school/university-of-redlands/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 83%. |
| 23 | California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA | $55,196 | $10,229 | $6,230 | 95.1% |
|  | [California State University-San Marcos](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/majors/) reports an [average net price of $10,229](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/cost/) and median earnings of $55,196 for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing. |
| 24 | California State University-East Bay · Hayward, CA | $54,436 | $9,320 | $6,360 | 97.4% |
|  | Median federal debt among Psychology, General completers who borrowed is $15,000 at [California State University-East Bay](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/majors/), which [admits 97% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/admissions/). |
| 25 | California State University-Monterey Bay · Seaside, CA | $54,074 | $13,663 | $9,970 | 97.4% |
|  | [California State University-Monterey Bay](/school/california-state-university-monterey-bay/majors/) reports [median earnings of $54,074](/school/california-state-university-monterey-bay/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $13,663. |
| 26 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $53,952 | Not reported | Not reported | 46.3% |
|  | A private nonprofit institution in Los Angeles, [The Chicago School at Los Angeles](/school/the-chicago-school-at-los-angeles/majors/) ranks 26th on this list and shows a [median federal debt of $28,125](/school/the-chicago-school-at-los-angeles/cost/) among Psychology, General completers who borrowed. |
| 27 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $53,237 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) [admits 94% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/admissions/) and posts median earnings of $53,237 for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing. |
| 28 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $53,143 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
|  | With an [average net price of $7,945](/school/university-of-california-merced/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/) ranks 28th on this list and reports median earnings of $53,143 four years after completing. |
| 29 | Menlo College · Atherton, CA | $52,942 | $31,100 | $25,546 | 68.5% |
|  | Menlo College ranks 737th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a median federal debt of $21,500 among Psychology, General completers who borrowed. |
| 30 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $52,742 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
|  | [California State University-Dominguez Hills](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/majors/) reports [median earnings of $52,742](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 93%. |
| 31 | Fresno Pacific University · Fresno, CA | $52,695 | $13,630 | $11,133 | 64.1% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Fresno, [Fresno Pacific University](/school/fresno-pacific-university/majors/) ranks 31st on this list and shows a [median federal debt of $23,000](/school/fresno-pacific-university/cost/) among Psychology, General completers who borrowed. |
| 32 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $52,621 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
|  | [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/) posts [median earnings of $52,621](/school/california-state-university-chico/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $9,902 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 33 | University of the Pacific · Stockton, CA | $52,612 | $25,447 | $17,004 | 71.3% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 71%](/school/university-of-the-pacific/admissions/), [University of the Pacific](/school/university-of-the-pacific/majors/) ranks 33rd on this list and reports median earnings of $52,612 for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing. |
| 34 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $51,679 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on this page, 1st among nonprofit four-year institutions, and reports a [median federal debt of $15,446](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/cost/) among Psychology, General completers who borrowed. |
| 35 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $51,661 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
|  | [California State University-Fullerton](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/) reports [median earnings of $51,661](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $3,315 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 36 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $51,526 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | Ranking 26th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/) posts [median earnings of $51,526](/school/california-state-university-fresno/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing. |
| 37 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $51,021 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $51,021](/school/san-diego-state-university/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, alongside a cohort of 699 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 38 | William Jessup University · Rocklin, CA | $50,354 | $28,062 | $23,123 | 93.3% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Rocklin, William Jessup University admits 93% of applicants and its Psychology, General completers who borrowed left with a median of $20,784 in federal loans. |
| 39 | California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA | $50,348 | $6,067 | $3,938 | 98.1% |
|  | [California State University-Stanislaus](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/majors/) ranks 39th on this list and posts an [average net price of $6,067](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/cost/). |
| 40 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $49,792 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | With an [Azimuth composite rank of 7th](/school/california-state-university-northridge/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) reports median earnings of $49,792 for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing. |
| 41 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $49,747 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) shows [median earnings of $49,747](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 75%. |
| 42 | Concordia University-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $49,593 | $28,115 | $25,431 | 66.0% |
|  | Concordia University-Irvine ranks 42nd on this list and its Psychology, General completers who borrowed left with a median of $25,000 in federal loans. |
| 43 | Biola University · La Mirada, CA | $49,450 | $31,495 | $27,144 | 74.4% |
|  | [Biola University](/school/biola-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $31,495](/school/biola-university/cost/) and median earnings of $49,450 for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing. |
| 44 | La Sierra University · Riverside, CA | $49,265 | $45,566 | $44,988 | 91.5% |
|  | La Sierra University admits 92% of applicants and its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing earned a median of $49,265. |
| 45 | California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, CA | $49,207 | $5,652 | $3,536 | 93.9% |
|  | [California State University-Bakersfield](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/majors/) ranks 45th on this list, with a school-wide [median federal debt of $16,600](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/cost/) across all of its borrowers who completed. |
| 46 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $48,926 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | An [Azimuth composite rank of 5th](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/) among nonprofit four-year institutions coincides with an average net price of $10,440 at [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/). |
| 47 | California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA | $48,789 | $9,849 | $6,857 | 94.8% |
|  | [California State University-Channel Islands](/school/california-state-university-channel-islands/majors/) shows [median earnings of $48,789](/school/california-state-university-channel-islands/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, alongside a cohort of 356 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 48 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $48,326 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
|  | An [admission rate of 94%](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/admissions/) and an average net price of $4,564 are reported by [California State University-San Bernardino](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/majors/). |
| 49 | Vanguard University of Southern California · Costa Mesa, CA | $47,582 | $21,241 | $17,225 | 62.4% |
|  | [Vanguard University of Southern California](/school/vanguard-university-of-southern-california/majors/) reports [median earnings of $47,582](/school/vanguard-university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $16,266 among Psychology, General completers who borrowed. |
| 50 | Hope International University · Fullerton, CA | $47,206 | $29,310 | $27,991 | 33.0% |
|  | Hope International University admits 33% of applicants and its Psychology, General graduates earn a median of $47,206 four years after completing. |
| 51 | Point Loma Nazarene University · San Diego, CA | $46,437 | $38,729 | $30,999 | 83.7% |
|  | [Point Loma Nazarene University](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $30,999](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 52 | Touro University Worldwide · Los Alamitos, CA | $46,340 | $19,058 | $18,342 | Not reported |
|  | Touro University Worldwide ranks 538th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Psychology, General graduates posted median earnings of $46,340 four years after completing. |
| 53 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $45,889 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | A public university in Arcata, [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) reports a [median federal debt of $15,000](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/cost/) among Psychology, General completers who borrowed. |
| 54 | Westmont College · Santa Barbara, CA | $45,455 | $29,053 | $20,899 | 77.1% |
|  | Westmont College shows median earnings of $45,455 for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 21 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 55 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $33,604 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
|  | [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/majors/) [ranks 23rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/san-jose-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $13,760. |
| 56 | Mount Saint Mary's University · Los Angeles, CA | $22,871 | $21,413 | $23,849 | 73.1% |
|  | [Mount Saint Mary's University](/school/mount-saint-marys-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $22,871](/school/mount-saint-marys-university/outcomes/) for its Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $21,413. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Psychology, General graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figure covers federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 2 of the 56 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 gap between Santa Clara University and University of San Diego is $1,564, while the spread from the top to the bottom of the list reaches $52,871.

## Related rankings

-   Psychology, General Programs
-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Psychology, General Programs in Colorado](/rankings/best-psychology-general-programs-in-colorado/)
-   [Psychology, General Programs in District of Columbia](/rankings/best-psychology-general-programs-in-district-of-columbia/)
-   [Best Psychology Colleges in California](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-california/)