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Best Colleges for Education in California

The best colleges for a Education degree in California, led by California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, University of California-Los Angeles and University of California-San Diego. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Education programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Education in California?

Based on our rankings, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is the top-ranked college for Education in California. Other top choices include University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-San Diego, University of California-Santa Cruz.

What are the best Education schools?

The best Education schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-San Diego. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Education?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Education programs is approximately $35,915 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Education degree?

A bachelor's degree in Education typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Education rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Education graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Education programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $76,753 per year. Below are the highest-paying Education programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo — San Luis Obispo, CA · 31.3% acceptance · $34,665 tuition · 86% grad rate
  2. 2. University of California-Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA · 9% acceptance · $49,403 tuition · 93% grad rate
  3. 3. University of California-San Diego — La Jolla, CA · 26.7% acceptance · $50,958 tuition · 86% grad rate
  4. 4. University of California-Santa Cruz — Santa Cruz, CA · 65.8% acceptance · $50,205 tuition · 75% grad rate
  5. 5. University of California-Davis — Davis, CA · 41.8% acceptance · $50,974 tuition · 86% grad rate
  6. 6. University of California-Riverside — Riverside, CA · 76.4% acceptance · $49,806 tuition · 76% grad rate
  7. 7. Chapman University — Orange, CA · 65.4% acceptance · SAT 1,357 · $64,984 tuition · 82% grad rate
  8. 8. University of the Pacific — Stockton, CA · 71.3% acceptance · SAT 1,346 · $57,080 tuition · 69% grad rate
  9. 9. California State University-Sacramento — Sacramento, CA · 94% acceptance · $20,618 tuition · 56% grad rate
  10. 10. San Jose State University — San Jose, CA · 84.6% acceptance · $21,010 tuition · 69% grad rate
  11. 11. San Diego State University — San Diego, CA · 36.2% acceptance · $21,328 tuition · 76% grad rate
  12. 12. California State University-Fresno — Fresno, CA · 95.3% acceptance · $19,950 tuition · 57% grad rate
  13. 13. University of La Verne — La Verne, CA · 71.2% acceptance · SAT 1,083 · $49,470 tuition · 63% grad rate
  14. 14. San Francisco State University — San Francisco, CA · 96.4% acceptance · $20,550 tuition · 50% grad rate
  15. 15. California State University-Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA · 91.3% acceptance · $19,760 tuition · 53% grad rate
  16. 16. Fresno Pacific University — Fresno, CA · 64.1% acceptance · $36,660 tuition · 50% grad rate
  17. 17. Biola University — La Mirada, CA · 74.4% acceptance · SAT 1,261 · $48,984 tuition · 68% grad rate
  18. 18. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona — Pomona, CA · 75.2% acceptance · $20,380 tuition · 68% grad rate
  19. 19. California Baptist University — Riverside, CA · 84.9% acceptance · $41,228 tuition · 62% grad rate
  20. 20. Sonoma State University — Rohnert Park, CA · 93.4% acceptance · $21,224 tuition · 58% grad rate
  21. 21. California State University-Stanislaus — Turlock, CA · 98.1% acceptance · $20,846 tuition · 53% grad rate
  22. 22. California State University-Dominguez Hills — Carson, CA · 93.3% acceptance · $20,049 tuition · 43% grad rate

Best Colleges for Education in California on PickACampus