2023 Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California
Finding the Best Computer Science School for You
Computer Science is the most popular major in California with 13,148 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.
It's not easy to decide which computer science program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Computer Science Degree Search has created the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 134 schools in California to see which programs were the most popular for computer science students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Computer Science program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California
Check out the compsci programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in California.
Top 15% Most Popular Computer Science Schools
Our analysis found University of Southern California to be the most popular school for computer science students who want to pursue a degree in California. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, compsci majors at USC accumulate an average of around $20,178 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $453.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California list. UC Irvine is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Irvine.
On average, compsci graduates from UC Irvine take out $16,000 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $177.
Full Computer Science at University of California - Irvine Report
The excellent programs at University of California - San Diego helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best computer science schools in California. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public school with a very large student population.
CompSci majors at UCSD take out an average of $17,575 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $308, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Computer Science at University of California - San Diego Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California list. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public school located in the city of Berkeley.
On average, compsci graduates from UC Berkeley take out $14,203 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $386.
Read full report on Computer Science at University of California - Berkeley
Out of the 134 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Cruz landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public college with a large student population.
The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at UC Santa Cruz take out is $17,126. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $355, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Computer Science at University of California - Santa Cruz
Stanford University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California ranking. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at Stanford take out is $13,645.
With a ranking of #7, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for computer science students. UCLA is a fairly large public school located in the city of Los Angeles.
Read full report on Computer Science at University of California - Los Angeles
University of California - Davis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for computer science students. It came in at #8 on the list. UC Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis.
Full Computer Science at University of California - Davis Report
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for computer science students. It came in at #9 on the list. Cal State Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton.
CompSci majors at Cal State Fullerton take out an average of $16,700 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Computer Science at California State University - Fullerton Report
San Diego State University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular computer science programs. Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public school with a very large student population.
The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at SDSU take out is $16,500.
University of California - Riverside ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California list. UCR is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Riverside.
While working on their degree, compsci majors at UCR accumulate an average of around $20,500 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $162.
Full Computer Science at University of California - Riverside Report
California State University - Sacramento landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular computer science programs. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
On average, compsci graduates from Sac State take out $17,744 in student loans while working on their degree.
California State University - Long Beach came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California ranking. CSULB is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Long Beach.
While working on their degree, compsci majors at CSULB accumulate an average of around $16,760 in student debt.
With a ranking of #14, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for computer science students. Located in the suburb of Pomona, Cal Poly Pomona is a public school with a very large student population.
On average, compsci graduates from Cal Poly Pomona take out $18,303 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Computer Science at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Report
San Jose State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for computer science students. It came in at #15 on the list. San Jose State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of San Jose.
Read full report on Computer Science at San Jose State University
California State University - East Bay came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California ranking. Located in the large suburb of Hayward, Cal State East Bay is a public school with a large student population.
The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at Cal State East Bay take out is $14,610.
Full Computer Science at California State University - East Bay Report
San Francisco State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public school with a very large student population.
CompSci majors at SFSU take out an average of $17,750 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $203, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Computer Science at San Francisco State University
With a ranking of #18, California State University - Northridge did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for computer science students. Located in the city of Northridge, CSUN is a public college with a fairly large student population.
On average, compsci graduates from CSUN take out $15,919 in student loans while working on their degree.
California State University - San Marcos came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California ranking. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public school with a large student population.
While working on their degree, compsci majors at CSUSM accumulate an average of around $15,616 in student debt.
Full Computer Science at California State University - San Marcos Report
University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for computer science students. It came in at #20 on the list. UCSB is a very large public school located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara.
The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at UCSB take out is $17,338.
Read full report on Computer Science at University of California - Santa Barbara
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Computer Science Schools in California award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| 22 | California State University - Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
| 23 | California State University - Monterey Bay | Seaside, CA |
| 24 | De Anza College | Cupertino, CA |
| 25 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 26 | California State University - Chico | Chico, CA |
Best Computer Science Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Most Popular Computer Science Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 1,551 |
| Oregon | 1,282 |
| Nevada | 152 |
| Hawaii | 152 |
| Alaska | 31 |
Computer Science Related Majors
Computer Science is one of 10 different types of computer science programs to choose from.
CompSci Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | 59,565 |
Majors Similar to CompSci
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer Information Systems | 88,434 |
| Information Technology | 40,555 |
| Information Science | 18,325 |
| Computer Systems Networking | 14,700 |
| Computer Software & Applications | 14,336 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Negative Space.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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