2026 Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools in California

1

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 166 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $48,690 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,045. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of California Berkeley

2

Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 84 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $41,156 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at Stanford University

3

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

Students looking for a strong area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #3. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 25 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from San Jose State University

4

University Of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

University Of Southern California came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 42 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for University Of Southern California

5

University Of California Davis
Davis, CA

Students looking for a strong area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program will find one at University Of California Davis, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 99 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $25,242. Typical student debt for the program is $14,166. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of California Davis

6

University Of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA

University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #6 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Cruz. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. About 109 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $31,140 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,747 to complete this degree. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of California Santa Cruz

7

University Of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA

University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #7 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $32,341 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,822 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from University Of California Santa Barbara

8

California State University Fresno
Fresno, CA

California State University Fresno came in at #8 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. About 57% of students finish within six years. California State University Fresno awarded about 21 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at California State University Fresno

9

University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco came in at #9 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $65,223 early in their careers. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of San Francisco

10

University Of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

University Of California Los Angeles ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 218 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $27,278 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,485. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of California Los Angeles

11

University Of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA

University Of California San Diego earned the #11 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 53 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $30,984 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,485 to complete this degree. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of California San Diego

12

California State University East Bay
Hayward, CA

California State University East Bay landed the #12 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $47,511. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,638 in student loans. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for California State University East Bay

13

California State University San Marcos
San Marcos, CA

California State University San Marcos placed #13 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. California State University San Marcos awarded about 11 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,726 early in their careers. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $17,527 in student loans. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for California State University San Marcos

14

University Of California Irvine
Irvine, CA

University Of California Irvine landed the #14 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 46 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $29,748 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $18,998 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of California Irvine

15

Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University earned the #15 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Sonoma State University awarded about 28 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $35,263. Typical student debt for the program is $19,187. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Sonoma State University

16

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University placed #16 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Francisco State University awarded about 79 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $31,001 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,875. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for San Francisco State University

17

California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 97 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $28,470 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,363 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at California State University Long Beach

18

California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Pomona, CA

California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 13 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $40,253. Students borrow a median of $13,486 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from California State Polytechnic University Pomona

19

California State University Sacramento
Sacramento, CA

California State University Sacramento came in at #19 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 72 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $30,628 early in their careers. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $18,120 in student loans. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for California State University Sacramento

20

Humboldt State University
Arcata, CA

Humboldt State University earned the #20 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 14 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Humboldt State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Humboldt State University generally make around $30,844. Typical student debt for the program is $15,533. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at Humboldt State University

21

California State University Fullerton
Fullerton, CA

California State University Fullerton placed #21 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 44 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $28,965 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $17,643 in student loans. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for California State University Fullerton

22

California State University Northridge
Northridge, CA

California State University Northridge came in at #22 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Northridge awarded about 143 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $26,771 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for California State University Northridge

23

University Of California Riverside
Riverside, CA

University Of California Riverside earned the #23 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $31,443 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from University Of California Riverside

24

Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 14 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $26,868 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $23,149 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at Loyola Marymount University

25

Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA

Mt San Antonio College earned the #25 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. There were roughly 61 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $44,391 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete this degree. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Mt San Antonio College