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Most Popular Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools in California

15 Schools Ranked
$21,127 Avg Student Debt

It's not easy to decide which computer science program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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.

The Most Popular Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Computer Science Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 15 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular graduate certificate programs for computer science students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.

Learn more about these popular schools below:

#1

Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey, California
221 Total Awards

Our 2023 rankings named Naval Postgraduate School the most popular school in California for computer science students working on their graduate certificate. Naval Postgraduate School is located in Monterey, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 221 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 20% were women.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Naval Postgraduate School. In 2019-2020 about 47% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Naval Postgraduate School

#2

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, California
5 Total Awards
$20,600 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means California Lutheran University is a great place for computer science students working on their graduate certificate. CLU is located in Thousand Oaks, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 20% were women.

One thing to take note of is that CLU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on California Lutheran University

#3

Southern States University

San Diego, California
3 Total Awards
$4,437 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 15 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern States University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Southern States University is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 3 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Southern States University. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Southern States University

#3

Westcliff University

Irvine, California
3 Total Awards
$13,100 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 15 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Westcliff University landed the # 3 spot on the list. This small private for-profit school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 3 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 33% were women.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Westcliff University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Westcliff University Report

#5

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
3 Total Awards
$9,570 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 15 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in San Diego, California, the large public school handed out 3 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SDSU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#6

Mills College

Oakland, California
1 Total Awards
$36,443 Average Tuition & Fees

Mills College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools in California list. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Oakland, California, and it awarded 1 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

Mills is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read More…

1 Total Awards
$8,494 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for computer science students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 1 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

CSUDH does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on California State University - Dominguez Hills

#6

Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco, California
1 Total Awards
$19,875 Average Tuition & Fees

Golden Gate University - San Francisco did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for computer science students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Golden Gate University - San Francisco is located in San Francisco, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Golden Gate University - San Francisco does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 58% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Golden Gate University - San Francisco

#6

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
1 Total Awards
$61,396 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Southern California did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for computer science students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at USC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 82% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of Southern California

1 Total Awards
$8,826 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Sacramento landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate computer science programs. This large public school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 1 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Sac State does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.

Full California State University - Sacramento Report

#11

DeVry University - California

Pomona, California
$17,552 Average Tuition & Fees

DeVry University - California landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate computer science programs.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at DeVry University - California. During the 2019-2020 year, about 63% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full DeVry University - California Report

#11

California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
$8,219 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for computer science students working on their graduate certificate.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Cal State LA. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Report

#11

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
$8,647 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate computer science programs.

One thing to take note of is that CSUSB does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on California State University - San Bernardino

#11

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
$19,922 Average Tuition & Fees

Loyola Marymount University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for computer science students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list.

Since the graduate programs at Loyola Marymount are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Read full report on Loyola Marymount University

#11

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont, California
$36,380 Average Tuition & Fees

Claremont Graduate University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate computer science programs.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Claremont Graduate University. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Claremont Graduate University Report

Most Popular Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 15 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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