Best Psychology, General Schools in California

California has 64 colleges offering Psychology, General programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 11,382 recent graduates. Graduates earn $29,717 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $29,219.

School choice matters significantly: University of California-Berkeley graduates earn $40,896 while Scripps College graduates earn $18,771 — a $22,125 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

64
Schools in CA
$29,717
CA Avg. Earnings
$29,219
National Avg.
1044
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Psychology, General in California

Public Schools (29)
$29,230
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (33)
$29,946
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $716 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Psychology, General Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

#1
U

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$40,896
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,365
Graduates: 170
Acceptance: 11.7%
#2
S

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private

$40,368
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $51,407
Graduates: 38
Acceptance: 3.9%
#3
N

National University

San Diego, CA · Private

$39,969
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,571
Graduates: 110
Acceptance: N/A
#4
N

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

$38,433
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 16.5%
#5
C

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

$37,640
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,306
Graduates: 296
Acceptance: 96.8%
#6
W

William Jessup University

Rocklin, CA · Private

$36,398
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,472
Graduates: 68
Acceptance: 76.8%
#7
U

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$35,653
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,146
Graduates: 125
Acceptance: 50.8%
#8
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$35,594
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,924
Graduates: 114
Acceptance: 10.0%
#9
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$34,135
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,678
Graduates: 314
Acceptance: 96.2%
#10
P

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,424
Graduates: 56
Acceptance: 49.9%
#11
N

Northcentral University

San Diego, CA ·

$33,993
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#12
U

University of Massachusetts Global

Aliso Viejo, CA · Public

$33,726
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,692
Graduates: 78
Acceptance: N/A
#13
S

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$33,604
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,851
Graduates: 196
Acceptance: 80.2%
#14
U

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA · Private

$32,569
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $20,777
Graduates: 39
Acceptance: 80.9%
#15
C

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$32,284
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,026
Graduates: 60
Acceptance: 55.6%
#16
H

Hope International University

Fullerton, CA · Private

$32,284
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 35.4%
#17
A

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$31,986
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,482
Graduates: 531
Acceptance: N/A
#18
S

Simpson University

Redding, CA · Private

$31,765
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $30,149
Graduates: 75
Acceptance: 99.0%
#19
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$31,673
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,831
Graduates: 91
Acceptance: 29.8%
#20
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$31,563
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $30,127
Graduates: 462
Acceptance: 8.7%
#21
H

Holy Names University

Oakland, CA · Private

$31,305
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#22
S

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

$31,133
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $50,081
Graduates: 57
Acceptance: 43.8%
#23
S

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$31,133
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $30,931
Graduates: 146
Acceptance: 94.7%
#24
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$30,864
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,717
Graduates: 445
Acceptance: 93.6%
#25
U

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,185
Graduates: 146
Acceptance: 24.5%
#26
N

Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA · Private

$30,228
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,420
Graduates: 28
Acceptance: N/A
#27
P

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, CA · Private

$30,228
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,647
Graduates: 42
Acceptance: 81.8%
#28
O

Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$30,047
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,916
Graduates: 29
Acceptance: 39.9%
#29
C

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,870
Graduates: 693
Acceptance: 86.7%
#30
U

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $35,181
Graduates: 62
Acceptance: 46.8%
#31
U

University of La Verne

La Verne, CA · Private

$29,250
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,811
Graduates: 95
Acceptance: 48.5%
#32
C

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private

$29,033
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,005
Graduates: 73
Acceptance: 88.9%
#33
V

Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA · Private

$28,960
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,534
Graduates: 37
Acceptance: 64.7%
#34
C

California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public

$28,895
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,861
Graduates: 293
Acceptance: 94.8%
#35
C

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$28,787
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $26,891
Graduates: 521
Acceptance: 47.1%
#36
C

California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public

$28,707
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,914
Graduates: 330
Acceptance: 93.1%
#37
U

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public

$28,697
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,722
Graduates: 262
Acceptance: 39.2%
#38
C

California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA · Public

$28,671
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,911
Graduates: 70
Acceptance: 88.2%
#39
U

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$28,393
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,446
Graduates: 430
Acceptance: 62.5%
#40
L

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$28,327
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,351
Graduates: 85
Acceptance: 40.3%
#41
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$28,294
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $26,025
Graduates: 285
Acceptance: 93.7%
#42
C

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public

$28,055
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,974
Graduates: 299
Acceptance: 97.5%
#43
C

Concordia University-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Private

$28,055
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,587
Graduates: 24
Acceptance: 59.9%
#44
C

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$28,055
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,075
Graduates: 168
Acceptance: 95.7%
#45
L

La Sierra University

Riverside, CA · Private

$28,019
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,179
Graduates: 17
Acceptance: 93.3%
#46
C

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$27,753
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,214
Graduates: 104
Acceptance: 73.6%
#47
C

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

$27,106
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,178
Graduates: 375
Acceptance: 91.3%
#48
B

Biola University

La Mirada, CA · Private

$27,091
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,427
Graduates: 79
Acceptance: 60.1%
#49
S

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA · Private

$26,739
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,907
Graduates: 29
Acceptance: 88.6%
#50
C

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$26,710
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,593
Graduates: 166
Acceptance: 73.7%
#51
A

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA · Private

$26,558
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,748
Graduates: 160
Acceptance: 79.5%
#52
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$26,507
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,524
Graduates: 876
Acceptance: 93.2%
#53
F

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA · Private

$25,967
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,929
Graduates: 38
Acceptance: 57.5%
#54
C

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$25,918
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,179
Graduates: 558
Acceptance: 98.3%
#55
W

Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA · Private

$25,596
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,369
Graduates: 25
Acceptance: 79.9%
#56
U

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$24,250
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,584
Graduates: 169
Acceptance: 63.3%
#57
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$24,240
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,714
Graduates: 192
Acceptance: 25.6%
#58
S

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$24,112
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,695
Graduates: 524
Acceptance: 34.4%
#59
C

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$23,359
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,024
Graduates: 317
Acceptance: 96.4%
#60
C

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$23,224
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,108
Graduates: 192
Acceptance: 98.8%
#61
M

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$22,871
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $31,589
Graduates: 41
Acceptance: 68.7%
#62
U

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private

$21,781
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $24,472
Graduates: 42
Acceptance: 94.9%
#63
W

Whittier College

Whittier, CA · Private

$21,508
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $27,562
Graduates: 35
Acceptance: 85.4%
#64
S

Scripps College

Claremont, CA · Private

$18,771
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 33.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Psychology, General in California?
University of California-Berkeley ranks #1 for Psychology, General in California with median graduate earnings of $40,896 within two years of graduation. There are 64 schools offering Psychology, General programs in the state.
How much do Psychology, General graduates earn in California?
Psychology, General graduates in California earn an average of $29,717 within two years of graduation. This is 2% above the national average of $29,219 for this major.
What is the hardest Psychology, General school to get into in California?
Stanford University is the most selective Psychology, General program in California with an acceptance rate of 3.9%. The average acceptance rate across Psychology, General programs in the state is 65.8%.
Should I attend a public or private school for Psychology, General in California?
In California, private Psychology, General programs produce average earnings of $29,946 vs $29,230 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 29 public and 33 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

All colleges in California →

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