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Best Schools for Economics in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall economics education in California.
Top Schools in Economics
Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 school for economics. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 661 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $80,446. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
See the full economics program report for University Of California Berkeley
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the top schools for economics. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 694 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $66,334 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
See the full economics program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
A rank of #3 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for economics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 148 economics degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Stanford University earn around $98,104 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from Stanford University
University Of California Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 964 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $62,091 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from University Of California Los Angeles
Students looking for a strong economics program will find one at Santa Clara University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 71 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $76,606 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Get the full economics details for Santa Clara University
University Of Southern California landed the #6 spot for economics this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 344 economics degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Economics graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $57,060 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
Get the full economics details for University Of Southern California
Claremont Mckenna College placed #7 among the best economics schools. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 99 economics degrees were awarded at Claremont Mckenna College in the most recent year. Economics graduates of Claremont Mckenna College earn a median of $89,505 early in their careers. Claremont Mckenna College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Read more about the economics program at Claremont Mckenna College
Pomona College placed #8 among the best economics schools. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 44 economics students who graduated with this degree at Pomona College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $70,051 in their early career.
Get the full economics details for Pomona College
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #9 among the best economics schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 77 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $67,501 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of California Davis earned the #10 position for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. About 449 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $50,295 in their early career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
Get the full economics details for University Of California Davis
University Of California San Diego placed #11 among the best economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 270 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $51,192 in their early career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the economics program at University Of California San Diego
California Institute Of Technology placed #12 among the best economics schools. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 20 economics students who graduated with this degree at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from California Institute Of Technology earn around $173,344 in the first couple years of their career.
Read more about the economics program at California Institute Of Technology
Scripps College placed #13 among the best economics schools. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 14 economics degrees were awarded at Scripps College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in economics from Scripps College
El Camino Community College District earned the #14 position for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Torrance. El Camino Community College District awarded about 75 economics degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full economics program report for El Camino Community College District
College Of San Mateo placed #15 among the best economics schools. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. About 68 economics degrees were awarded at College Of San Mateo in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for College Of San Mateo
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 158 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $50,518 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,017 to complete this degree.
Get the full economics details for University Of California Santa Cruz
Loyola Marymount University landed the #17 spot for economics this year. 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. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 63 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $53,206 early in their careers. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the economics program at Loyola Marymount University
Pepperdine University earned the #18 position for economics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. Pepperdine University awarded about 46 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $54,267 in their early career. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Pepperdine University
Claremont Graduate University earned the #19 position for economics this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. About 30 economics degrees were awarded at Claremont Graduate University in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Claremont Graduate University earn around $68,239 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in economics from Claremont Graduate University
De Anza College earned the #20 position for economics this year. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. De Anza College awarded about 74 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271.
More information about a degree in economics from De Anza College
California State University Fullerton ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 56 economics students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $39,993 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
See the full economics program report for California State University Fullerton
Diablo Valley College came in at #22 for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 90 economics degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from Diablo Valley College
Sonoma State University earned the #23 position for economics this year. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Sonoma State University awarded about 22 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Sonoma State University earn around $53,825 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,125 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for Sonoma State University
University Of California Irvine earned the #24 position for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 411 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $44,087 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,499 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from University Of California Irvine
University Of San Francisco placed #25 among the best economics schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 71 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $58,046 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the economics program at University Of San Francisco
Rest of the Top 50 Economics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s economics ranking:
