Best Schools for Computer Software & Applications in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall computer software & applications education in California.
Top Schools in Computer Software & Applications
Santa Clara University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in computer software & applications. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 15 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best computer software & applications schools. 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. University Of Southern California awarded about 128 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $118,936 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes San Diego State University one of the top schools for computer software & applications. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $51,162 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of California Santa Cruz one of the top schools for computer software & applications. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 32 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $40,920 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,559.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of California Irvine one of the top schools for computer software & applications. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 46 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $50,958 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $21,650 in student loans.
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Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #6 spot for computer software & applications this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 65 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
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California College Of The Arts placed #7 among the best computer software & applications schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at California College Of The Arts in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $52,838 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,594 to complete this degree.
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Art Center College Of Design ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best computer software & applications schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Art Center College Of Design graduates 79% of students within six years. Art Center College Of Design awarded about 45 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Art Center College Of Design generally make around $52,659. Art Center College Of Design graduates carry a median of $37,803 in student loans.
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Woodbury University earned the #9 position for computer software & applications this year. Set in the city of Burbank, Woodbury University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 19 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at Woodbury University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Woodbury University generally make around $45,051. Typical student debt for the program is $30,996.
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Orange Coast College landed the #10 spot for computer software & applications this year. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Orange Coast College awarded about 32 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $46,306 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,978.
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Miracosta College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best computer software & applications schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Oceanside. Miracosta College graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Miracosta College in the most recent data year.
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Santa Ana College placed #12 among the best computer software & applications schools. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. About 22 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at Santa Ana College in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $39,633 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,196.
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California Institute Of The Arts came in at #13 for computer software & applications this year. California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valencia. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 20 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at California Institute Of The Arts in the most recent data year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of California Institute Of The Arts earn a median of $22,475 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,031.
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Pasadena City College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best computer software & applications schools. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Pasadena City College awarded about 22 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from Pasadena City College earn around $38,841 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,191.
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Long Beach City College earned the #15 position for computer software & applications this year. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. There were roughly 33 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Long Beach City College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete this degree.
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Modesto Junior College earned the #16 position for computer software & applications this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Modesto. Modesto Junior College awarded about 13 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. Typical student debt for the program is $8,575.
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Cogswell Polytechnical College came in at #17 for computer software & applications this year. Set in the city of San Jose, Cogswell Polytechnical College is a small private for-profit institution. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at Cogswell Polytechnical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $37,693 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
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College Of The Desert earned the #18 position for computer software & applications this year. College Of The Desert is a large public school located in the city of Palm Desert. About 20 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at College Of The Desert in the most recent year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from College Of The Desert earn around $41,295 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,826 to complete this degree.
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Academy Of Art University came in at #19 for computer software & applications this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. Academy Of Art University awarded about 291 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from Academy Of Art University earn around $43,600 in the first couple years of their career. Academy Of Art University graduates carry a median of $36,858 in student loans.
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Imperial Valley College came in at #20 for computer software & applications this year. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. There were roughly 30 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Imperial Valley College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $42,617 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,176 to complete this degree.
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Cosumnes River College placed #21 among the best computer software & applications schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, Cosumnes River College is a very large public university. Cosumnes River College awarded about 15 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from Cosumnes River College earn around $19,699 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
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Antelope Valley College landed the #22 spot for computer software & applications this year. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Antelope Valley College is a large public university. There were roughly 33 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Antelope Valley College in the most recent data year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of Antelope Valley College earn a median of $50,744 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,729 to complete this degree.
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California Institute Of Arts And Technology landed the #23 spot for computer software & applications this year. California Institute Of Arts And Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of National City. California Institute Of Arts And Technology awarded about 43 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $48,778 in their early career. California Institute Of Arts And Technology graduates carry a median of $21,696 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 87 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
