Best Economics Schools in California

California has 40 colleges offering Economics programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 3,795 recent graduates. Graduates earn $49,151 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $48,479.

School choice matters significantly: Claremont McKenna College graduates earn $87,754 while University of Redlands graduates earn $20,373 — a $67,381 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

Schools in CA

$49,151

CA Avg. Earnings

$48,479

National Avg.

413

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Economics in California

Public Schools (26)

$45,481

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (14)

$55,968

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $10,487 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Economics Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA · Private

$87,754

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $95,566

Graduates: 39

Acceptance: 11.1%

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private

$85,391

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $60,475

Graduates: 25

Acceptance: 3.9%

Pomona College

Claremont, CA · Private

$77,213

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $67,038

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 6.8%

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$70,379

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $71,330

Graduates: 302

Acceptance: 11.7%

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

$68,379

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $62,432

Graduates: 67

Acceptance: 43.8%

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$60,790

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,465

Graduates: 341

Acceptance: 27.8%

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

$60,046

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $56,668

Graduates: 131

Acceptance: 16.5%

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$59,124

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $51,116

Graduates: 46

Acceptance: 29.8%

California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$55,512

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $45,814

Graduates: 30

Acceptance: 94.7%

#11

Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$55,078

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $46,544

Graduates: 52

Acceptance: 39.9%

#12

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$52,733

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,407

Graduates: 54

Acceptance: 86.7%

#13

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$51,899

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $52,741

Graduates: 399

Acceptance: 8.7%

#14

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$50,856

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $55,050

Graduates: 17

Acceptance: 46.8%

#15

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$49,962

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $54,837

Graduates: 114

Acceptance: 10.0%

#16

California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA · Public

$49,683

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,472

Graduates: 17

Acceptance: 88.2%

#17

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$48,432

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $62,161

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 50.8%

#18

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$47,553

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $44,249

Graduates: 423

Acceptance: 41.6%

#19

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$47,260

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $50,000

Graduates: 49

Acceptance: 40.3%

#20

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$47,260

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $51,799

Graduates: 30

Acceptance: 49.9%

#21

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$46,300

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,370

Graduates: 344

Acceptance: 24.5%

#22

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$44,356

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,483

Graduates: 94

Acceptance: 62.5%

#23

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$43,319

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $45,626

Graduates: 39

Acceptance: 95.7%

#25

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$43,240

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,709

Graduates: 63

Acceptance: 96.2%

#26

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public

$43,000

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,771

Graduates: 54

Acceptance: 39.2%

#27

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$42,682

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,797

Graduates: 167

Acceptance: 93.6%

#28

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$41,689

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,818

Graduates: 182

Acceptance: 34.4%

#30

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA · Private

$41,193

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $54,519

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 88.6%

#31

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$40,179

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $36,911

Graduates: 97

Acceptance: 47.1%

#32

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$39,909

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,741

Graduates: 82

Acceptance: 93.2%

#33

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$38,937

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,836

Graduates: 189

Acceptance: 63.3%

#34

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$38,289

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $49,509

Graduates: 53

Acceptance: 80.2%

#35

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$37,568

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $36,996

Graduates: 36

Acceptance: 73.7%

#36

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$35,594

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,188

Graduates: 152

Acceptance: 25.6%

#37

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$33,459

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,938

Graduates: 39

Acceptance: 98.3%

#39

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA · Private

$20,373

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 80.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Economics in California?

Claremont McKenna College ranks #1 for Economics in California with median graduate earnings of $87,754 within two years of graduation. There are 40 schools offering Economics programs in the state.

How much do Economics graduates earn in California?

Economics graduates in California earn an average of $49,151 within two years of graduation. This is 1% above the national average of $48,479 for this major.

What is the hardest Economics school to get into in California?

Stanford University is the most selective Economics program in California with an acceptance rate of 3.9%. The average acceptance rate across Economics programs in the state is 57.0%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Economics in California?

In California, private Economics programs produce average earnings of $55,968 vs $45,481 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 26 public and 14 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Engineering, General $76,184 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Manufacturing Engineering $73,841 Engineering-Related Fields $73,096 Computer Science $72,889

All colleges in California →

Economics in Other States

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.