2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in California
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which computer science program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Computer Science Degree Search has created the Best Value Computer Science Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 42 schools in California to see which programs offered the best value experiences for computer science students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Computer Science Schools in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of California - Berkeley the best value school in California for computer science students working on their degree. Located in Berkeley, California, the large public school awarded 1,843 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UC Berkeley are $43,980 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $15,301 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $323 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UC Berkeley, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,587 during the early years of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, UC Berkeley is ranked #3 for overall quality in California.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in California list. This large public school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 206 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $28,105 per year. On average, students take out $18,067 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $377, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,753 during the early year of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is ranked #5 for overall quality in California.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Channel Islands. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in California list. CSUCI is located in Camarillo, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CSUCI are $18,697 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,841 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $243.After graduating from CSUCI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,739 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at California State University - Chico helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value computer science schools in California. Chico State is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 188 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Chico State are $19,744 a year. On average, students take out $19,135 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $365 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Chico State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,305 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 42 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the # 5 spot on the list. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 304 degrees to qualified students.
CSULB undergraduate students pay an average of $18,726 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,702 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, CSULB graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,445 during the early year of their career.
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in California list. This large public school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 313 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cal Poly Pomona are $19,319 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,789 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $171 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Cal Poly Pomona graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,201 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in California ranking. Located in Seaside, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 171 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CSUMB are $19,098 a year. On average, students take out $16,303 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $190 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from CSUMB, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,457 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on California State University - Monterey Bay
California State University - Northridge landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. This large public school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 378 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CSUN are $18,923 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,166 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CSUN, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,924 during the early years of their career.
San Jose State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in California list. Located in San Jose, California, the large public school awarded 344 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at San Jose State are $19,732 a year. Once they receive their degree, San Jose State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,886 during the early year of their career.
California State University - Sacramento came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in California ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, the large public school awarded 310 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Sac State are $19,272 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,924 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $172 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Sac State graduates make an average of $45,098 annually.
Read full report on California State University - Sacramento
San Diego State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in California list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 386 students in 2020-2021.
SDSU undergraduate students pay an average of $20,016 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,150 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $251, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from SDSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,826 during the early years of their career.
University of California - San Diego ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in California list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,154 degrees to qualified students.
UCSD undergraduate students pay an average of $44,454 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,172 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $242. During the early years of their career, UCSD graduates make an average of $50,251 annually.
UCSD also made our Best Computer Science Schools in California list, coming in at #4.
California State University - East Bay landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school situated in Hayward, California. It awarded 280 degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State East Bay undergraduate students pay an average of $18,875 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $20,301 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $176. During the early years of their career, Cal State East Bay graduates make an average of $52,422 annually.
California State University - San Marcos came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in California ranking. CSUSM is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 229 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CSUSM are $19,607 a year. On average, students take out $18,457 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $189 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, CSUSM graduates make an average of $43,115 annually.
Read full report on California State University - San Marcos
California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for computer science students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, the large public school handed out 328 degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State LA undergraduate students pay an average of $18,665 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,712 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Cal State LA graduates make an average of $43,734 annually.
Read full report on California State University - Los Angeles
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for computer science students. It came in at #15 on the list. Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 459 degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State Fullerton undergraduate students pay an average of $18,856 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,931 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $191, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Cal State Fullerton, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,875 during the early years of their career.
University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for computer science students. It came in at #17 on the list. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 215 degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSB undergraduate students pay an average of $44,171 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $16,986 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $287, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UCSB graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,268 during the early year of their career.
UCSB also claimed a spot on our Best Computer Science Schools in California list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on University of California - Santa Barbara
San Francisco State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, the large public school handed out 268 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at SFSU are $19,184 a year. On average, students take out $19,529 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $196 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, SFSU graduates make an average of $46,645 annually.
University of California - Irvine landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. This large public school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 1,232 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UC Irvine are $43,529 a year. On average, students take out $16,722 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $209, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UC Irvine, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,120 during the early years of their career.
University of Phoenix - California ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in California list. This small private for-profit school is located in Costa Mesa, California, and it awarded 40 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UOPX - California are $9,552 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $35,636 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $143. Once they receive their degree, UOPX - California graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,213 during the early year of their career.
California State University - Fresno landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Fresno, California, the large public school awarded 69 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Fresno State undergraduate students pay an average of $18,533 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,360 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Fresno State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,058 during the early year of their career.
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for computer science students. It came in at #21 on the list. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 244 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CSUSB are $19,093 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,358 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $137.After graduating from CSUSB, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,226 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on California State University - San Bernardino
California State University - Stanislaus landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Stan State is a public institution located in Turlock, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 79 degrees in 2020-2021.
Stan State undergraduate students pay an average of $19,524 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $17,714 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $138, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Stan State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,835 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on California State University - Stanislaus
California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Carson, California, the fairly large public school awarded 164 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
CSUDH undergraduate students pay an average of $18,940 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $18,973 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from CSUDH, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,452 during the early years of their career.
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. This fairly large public school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 913 degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz undergraduate students pay an average of $43,824 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,900 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $285 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UC Santa Cruz graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,777 during the early year of their career.
Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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