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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Behavioral Sciences Schools in California

5 Colleges in the United States
461 Behavioral Sciences Degrees Awarded
$53,952 Avg Early-Career Salary

Behavioral Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their behavioral sciences programs.

College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best behavioral sciences schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Behavioral Sciences in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the behavioral sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Behavioral Sciences

1

University Of Southern California tops our 2026 ranking of the best behavioral sciences schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 12 behavioral sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the behavioral sciences program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625. See the full behavioral sciences program report for University Of Southern California

2

San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in behavioral sciences, ranking #2. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 38 behavioral sciences degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year. Get the full behavioral sciences details for San Jose State University

3

Students looking for a strong behavioral sciences program will find one at Concordia University Irvine, which ranked #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 behavioral sciences degrees were awarded at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the behavioral sciences program make about $31,899 in their early career. Concordia University Irvine graduates carry a median of $24,583 in student loans. Get the full behavioral sciences details for Concordia University Irvine

4

California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best behavioral sciences schools. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. About 43% of students finish within six years. California State University Dominguez Hills awarded about 19 behavioral sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the behavioral sciences program make about $52,683 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,886. See the full behavioral sciences program report for California State University Dominguez Hills

5

Students looking for a strong behavioral sciences program will find one at Imperial Valley College, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the rural area of Imperial. There were roughly 163 behavioral sciences students who graduated with this degree at Imperial Valley College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the behavioral sciences program make about $42,617 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,176. Get the full behavioral sciences details for Imperial Valley College

6
Chabot College crest
Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College placed #6 among the best behavioral sciences schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. About 13 behavioral sciences degrees were awarded at Chabot College in the most recent year. Behavioral Sciences graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete this degree. Get the full behavioral sciences details for Chabot College

7
American River College crest
American River College
Sacramento, CA

American River College landed the #7 spot for behavioral sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. American River College awarded about 27 behavioral sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their behavioral sciences degree from American River College earn around $76,077 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,105. More information about a degree in behavioral sciences from American River College

8
Life Pacific College crest
Life Pacific College
San Dimas, CA

Life Pacific College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best behavioral sciences schools. Life Pacific College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of San Dimas. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. About 19 behavioral sciences degrees were awarded at Life Pacific College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, behavioral sciences degree recipients from Life Pacific College generally make around $29,830. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the behavioral sciences program at Life Pacific College

9
Ashford University crest
Ashford University
San Diego, CA

Ashford University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best behavioral sciences schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit university. About 10% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 151 behavioral sciences students who graduated with this degree at Ashford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the behavioral sciences program make about $37,661 in their early career. Ashford University graduates carry a median of $51,388 in student loans. More information about a degree in behavioral sciences from Ashford University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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