Best economics colleges in California

Economics bachelor graduates in California earn a weighted average salary of $74,113 3 years after graduation. This places California graduate earnings in the top 50% nationally. Additionally, economics graduates earn 31% more than the total graduating bachelor class in the state.

Cost of living is not considered when comparing states.

Our economics rankings cover 37 of the 42 programs available in California, accounting for 98% of total student graduates. We only include schools with sufficient earnings and/or cost data.

Interested in how we rank schools? Review our ranking methodology.

Read more
Filters
  • Humanities & Social Sciences
  • California
  • Economics
  • Clear all filters
Sort By
Cost
Earnings
Rankings
Ranking methodology

20 of 37

#1 in California | #1 in Economics nationally

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Economic score 0.32

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $10,851

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $127,416

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 97%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in California | #8 in Economics nationally

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, California

Economic score 0.67

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $19,489

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $115,832

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 92%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in California | #14 in Economics nationally
Economic score 0.76

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,371

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $106,624

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in California | #18 in Economics nationally

Pomona College

Claremont, California

Economic score 0.86

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,084

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $100,669

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in California | #28 in Economics nationally
Economic score 1.12

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,482

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $88,311

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 86%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in California | #30 in Economics nationally
Economic score 1.14

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $7,485

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,016

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 81%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in California | #40 in Economics nationally
Economic score 1.38

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,637

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $81,475

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in California | #49 in Economics nationally

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

Economic score 1.60

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,912

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $75,235

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 68%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in California | #50 in Economics nationally

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California

Economic score 1.60

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,528

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $78,350

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 68%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in California | #67 in Economics nationally
Economic score 1.90

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,293

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $63,401

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in California | #73 in Economics nationally

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California

Economic score 1.99

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $44,133

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $102,794

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in California | #76 in Economics nationally
Economic score 2.02

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,721

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,301

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 83%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in California | #81 in Economics nationally
Economic score 2.10

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,674

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,906

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 89%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in California | #93 in Economics nationally

UC Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

Economic score 2.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,601

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $73,904

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 80%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in California | #94 in Economics nationally
Economic score 2.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,766

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $76,499

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 86%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in California | #99 in Economics nationally
Economic score 2.30

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,069

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $68,970

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 90%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in California | #102 in Economics nationally

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

Economic score 2.32

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,370

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $67,079

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 76%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in California | #103 in Economics nationally
Economic score 2.36

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,887

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $66,480

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in California | #107 in Economics nationally
Economic score 2.41

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,215

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $59,124

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#20 in California | #108 in Economics nationally
Economic score 2.42

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,426

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $63,977

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 87%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

Show more

How long does it take me to repay a bachelor's degree in economics in California?

Years

2.4 years

The cost of the average bachelor's degree in economics in California is covered by the new earnings of graduates in 2.4 years.

How much do graduates with a bachelor's degree in economics earn in California?

Salary

$74,113

The median bachelor's degree in economics graduate earns $74,113 4 years after graduating.

How much does a bachelor's degree in economics cost in California?

Net cost

$16,982

The average annual cost of a bachelor's degree in economics is $16,982. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.

Explore our other rankings

2024 Best Undergraduate Business Schools

Explore our rankings of the best undergraduate business schools before embarking on your business journey.

2024 Best Sociology Schools

Understand social issues, analyze data, and make a positive impact on society with a bachelor's in sociology degree.

2024 Best Political Science Schools

Get a bachelor's degree in political science to understand the complexities of policy-making and connect modern day issues to philosophical roots of governance.

2024 Best Colleges for English Majors

A bachelor's degree in English enables you to explore the power of the written word, deepen your empathy, and express yourself creatively.

2024 Best Colleges for History Majors

A BA in history sharpens critical thinking and research skills, offering a diverse perspective on the world and preparing your for many careers.