64 colleges · California
Political science colleges in California
64 colleges in California offer a bachelor's degree in political science (30 public). Graduates of the typical program here earned $43,283 a year after graduating, compared with $43,363 nationally.
Colleges64
Public30
Graduates in 2023-245,369
Typical earnings 1 yr after$43,283
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$63,213
National, 4 yrs after$62,006
All political science programs in California
Sorted by earnings four years after graduation. Click a heading to sort.
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA | 62 | $52,348 | $93,518 | $19,093 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | 98 | $42,667 | $81,843 | $14,013 |
| Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA | 36 | $50,528 | $75,954 | $20,000 |
| University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA | 403 | $50,634 | $75,128 | $12,412 |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 148 | $55,788 | $75,090 | $14,250 |
| University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | 723 | $44,791 | $74,202 | $12,499 |
| Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA | 42 | $62,844 | $73,826 | n/a |
| Northeastern University OaklandOakland, CA | 2 | $55,843 | $73,539 | $20,875 |
| Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, CA | 25 | $52,100 | $72,441 | $20,500 |
| Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA | 101 | $45,608 | $72,375 | $19,201 |
| University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | 46 | $50,506 | $72,263 | $22,500 |
| California State University-East BayHayward, CA | 53 | $48,763 | $71,022 | $14,000 |
| University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA | 319 | $43,555 | $70,384 | $11,927 |
| Chapman UniversityOrange, CA | 55 | $48,548 | $68,856 | $19,500 |
| Pitzer CollegeClaremont, CA | 20 | n/a | $68,831 | n/a |
| University of California-DavisDavis, CA | 297 | $43,173 | $67,759 | $12,680 |
| University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA | 353 | $40,228 | $67,713 | $12,000 |
| University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA | 166 | $43,393 | $65,890 | $14,500 |
| Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA | 12 | n/a | $65,558 | n/a |
| Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CA | 25 | $42,054 | $65,009 | $11,125 |
| San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA | 135 | $43,429 | $64,824 | $13,000 |
| California Baptist UniversityRiverside, CA | 15 | $30,482 | $64,605 | $19,500 |
| University of RedlandsRedlands, CA | 18 | n/a | $64,353 | n/a |
| University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA | 267 | $40,159 | $63,318 | $14,226 |
| University of La VerneLa Verne, CA | 8 | $37,451 | $63,107 | n/a |
| University of California-MercedMerced, CA | 59 | $37,624 | $62,815 | $12,515 |
| Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga, CA | 24 | $43,771 | $62,651 | $23,250 |
| University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA | 76 | $50,930 | $62,301 | $20,717 |
| California State University-FresnoFresno, CA | 69 | $38,580 | $62,298 | $16,442 |
| San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA | 114 | $45,925 | $61,915 | $13,773 |
| California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, CA | 90 | $37,018 | $61,712 | $13,733 |
| California State University-ChicoChico, CA | 52 | $44,275 | $61,293 | $13,500 |
| California State University-SacramentoSacramento, CA | 175 | $43,054 | $60,278 | $15,000 |
| California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CA | 9 | $41,636 | $60,243 | $19,283 |
| California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA | 173 | $38,812 | $59,787 | $14,818 |
| California State University-Dominguez HillsCarson, CA | 29 | $29,790 | $59,558 | $15,300 |
| California State University-Channel IslandsCamarillo, CA | 23 | $38,484 | $58,306 | n/a |
| California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge, CA | 176 | $38,484 | $57,527 | $17,177 |
| University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA | 232 | $38,295 | $56,740 | $17,708 |
| California State University-StanislausTurlock, CA | 19 | $34,355 | $56,330 | n/a |
| California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | 68 | $40,051 | $56,063 | $12,500 |
| Whittier CollegeWhittier, CA | 7 | $43,463 | $55,853 | n/a |
| California State University-FullertonFullerton, CA | 92 | $32,934 | $53,966 | $12,356 |
| California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA | 54 | $39,141 | $53,378 | $14,154 |
| California State University-BakersfieldBakersfield, CA | 32 | $33,427 | $51,882 | n/a |
| California State University-San MarcosSan Marcos, CA | 68 | $44,035 | $50,857 | $13,738 |
| University of the PacificStockton, CA | 15 | n/a | $50,827 | n/a |
| California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA | 17 | $39,244 | $41,994 | n/a |
| Scripps CollegeClaremont, CA | 23 | $62,909 | n/a | n/a |
| Stanford UniversityStanford, CA | 88 | $47,352 | n/a | $10,917 |
| Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dominican University of CaliforniaSan Rafael, CA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Fresno Pacific UniversityFresno, CA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mount Saint Mary's UniversityLos Angeles, CA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| National UniversitySan Diego, CA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pacific Union CollegeAngwin, CA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Point Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego, CA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA | 76 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Simpson UniversityRedding, CA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The Master's University and SeminarySanta Clarita, CA | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Westmont CollegeSanta Barbara, CA | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| William Jessup UniversityRocklin, CA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Woodbury UniversityBurbank, CA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in California offer political science?
64 colleges in California awarded bachelor's degrees in political science in 2022-23 or 2023-24, 30 of them public.
Where do political science graduates earn the most in California?
Santa Clara University, with median earnings of $93,518 four years after graduation (programs with at least 5 graduates).
Political science nationwide · All colleges in California
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.