by our College Data Analytics TeamBest is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best best schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall best education in California.
Leading the list is Mt San Antonio College, our #1 school for best. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. There were roughly 27 best students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $40,929 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Mt San Antonio College
Students looking for a strong best program will find one at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, which ranked #2. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 31 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $49,427 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,226. Get the full best details for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
A rank of #3 makes Santa Rosa Junior College one of the top schools for best. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. About 36 best degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692. Read more about the best program at Santa Rosa Junior College
Foothill College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. About 28 best degrees were awarded at Foothill College in the most recent year. Best graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $94,152 early in their careers. Foothill College graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Foothill College
Carrington College California Pleasant Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Carrington College California Pleasant Hill is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 55 best students who graduated with this degree at Carrington College California Pleasant Hill in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Carrington College California Pleasant Hill generally make around $36,236. Carrington College California Pleasant Hill graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Get the full best details for Carrington College California Pleasant Hill
Carrington College California Sacramento placed #6 among the best best schools. Carrington College California Sacramento is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Sacramento. There were roughly 37 best students who graduated with this degree at Carrington College California Sacramento in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $36,236 in their early career. Carrington College California Sacramento graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Get the full best details for Carrington College California Sacramento
Carrington College California San Jose earned the #7 position for best this year. Carrington College California San Jose is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Jose. Carrington College California San Jose awarded about 33 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $36,236 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000. More information about a degree in best from Carrington College California San Jose
Carrington College California San Leandro landed the #8 spot for best this year. Set in the suburb of San Leandro, Carrington College California San Leandro is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 28 best students who graduated with this degree at Carrington College California San Leandro in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Carrington College California San Leandro generally make around $36,236. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000. See the full best program report for Carrington College California San Leandro
Carrington College California Stockton came in at #9 for best this year. Carrington College California Stockton is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. Carrington College California Stockton awarded about 35 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Carrington College California Stockton earn around $36,236 in the first couple years of their career. Carrington College California Stockton graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Carrington College California Stockton
San Joaquin Valley College Ontario landed the #10 spot for best this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Ontario. There were roughly 42 best students who graduated with this degree at San Joaquin Valley College Ontario in the most recent data year. Best graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Ontario earn a median of $44,033 early in their careers. San Joaquin Valley College Ontario graduates carry a median of $16,876 in student loans. Read more about the best program at San Joaquin Valley College Ontario
San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield came in at #11 for best this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Bakersfield. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield awarded about 47 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $28,374 in their early career. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield graduates carry a median of $15,432 in student loans. See the full best program report for San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield
San Diego Mesa College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 18 best students who graduated with this degree at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $29,852 in their early career. San Diego Mesa College graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from San Diego Mesa College
Modesto Junior College landed the #13 spot for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Modesto. Modesto Junior College awarded about 67 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $36,525 in their early career. Modesto Junior College graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Modesto Junior College
San Joaquin Valley College Fresno landed the #14 spot for best this year. San Joaquin Valley College Fresno is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Fresno. San Joaquin Valley College Fresno awarded about 63 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from San Joaquin Valley College Fresno earn around $28,374 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,432. See the full best program report for San Joaquin Valley College Fresno
Allan Hancock College landed the #15 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. Allan Hancock College awarded about 22 best degrees in the most recent data year. See the full best program report for Allan Hancock College
Ventura College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. There were roughly 45 best students who graduated with this degree at Ventura College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Ventura College earn around $99,778 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Ventura College
Los Angeles Pierce College earned the #17 position for best this year. Set in the city of Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Pierce College is a very large public institution. About 32 best degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Pierce College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $12,477 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Los Angeles Pierce College
Yuba College landed the #18 spot for best this year. Yuba College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville. Yuba College awarded about 14 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $89,816 in their early career. Yuba College graduates carry a median of $8,729 in student loans. Get the full best details for Yuba College
Platt College Los Angeles placed #19 among the best best schools. Set in the suburb of Alhambra, Platt College Los Angeles is a small private for-profit institution. Platt College Los Angeles awarded about 190 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Platt College Los Angeles generally make around $26,326. Typical student debt for the program is $12,999. Read more about the best program at Platt College Los Angeles
Stanbridge College came in at #20 for best this year. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Irvine. About 17 best degrees were awarded at Stanbridge College in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Stanbridge College earn around $41,647 in the first couple years of their career. Stanbridge College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Stanbridge College
Central Coast College earned the #21 position for best this year. Central Coast College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Salinas. There were roughly 32 best students who graduated with this degree at Central Coast College in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Central Coast College earn a median of $27,112 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,580. Get the full best details for Central Coast College
Pima Medical Institute San Marcos earned the #22 position for best this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Pima Medical Institute San Marcos is a small private for-profit institution. Pima Medical Institute San Marcos awarded about 124 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Pima Medical Institute San Marcos earn a median of $30,864 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,689 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Pima Medical Institute San Marcos
Pima Medical Institute Chula Vista earned the #23 position for best this year. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Pima Medical Institute Chula Vista is a small private for-profit university. Pima Medical Institute Chula Vista awarded about 156 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Chula Vista generally make around $30,864. Students borrow a median of $14,689 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Pima Medical Institute Chula Vista
Butte County Regional Occupational Program landed the #24 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Chico, Butte County Regional Occupational Program is a small public institution. There were roughly 12 best students who graduated with this degree at Butte County Regional Occupational Program in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Butte County Regional Occupational Program earn around $29,437 in the first couple years of their career. See the full best program report for Butte County Regional Occupational Program
High Desert Medical College landed the #25 spot for best this year. High Desert Medical College is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster. There were roughly 100 best students who graduated with this degree at High Desert Medical College in the most recent data year. Best graduates of High Desert Medical College earn a median of $27,467 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,028. Read more about the best program at High Desert Medical College
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong best education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 33 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
