Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 302 schools to find the best for education students.
Best Schools for Education in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the education degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than University Of California Los Angeles this year for education. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 354 education degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $107,100 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
Get the full education details for University Of California Los Angeles
A rank of #2 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for education. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. Stanford University awarded about 171 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Stanford University earn around $85,162 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
See the full education program report for Stanford University
University Of California Irvine is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in education, ranking #3. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 577 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $63,497 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,575.
See the full education program report for University Of California Irvine
Students looking for a strong education program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #4. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 175 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $70,847 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for University Of California Berkeley
University Of Southern California came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 773 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $67,036 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the education program at University Of Southern California
Santa Clara University came in at #6 for education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 80 education degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $79,548 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
See the full education program report for Santa Clara University
Concordia University Irvine landed the #7 spot for education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Irvine. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 411 education degrees were awarded at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent year. Education graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of $102,778 early in their careers. Concordia University Irvine graduates carry a median of $26,085 in student loans.
Read more about the education program at Concordia University Irvine
University Of California San Diego earned the #8 position for education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 133 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $91,736. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans.
Read more about the education program at University Of California San Diego
California State University Northridge ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 621 education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from California State University Northridge earn around $74,099 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
Get the full education details for California State University Northridge
California State University Long Beach landed the #10 spot for education this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 284 education degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $82,272. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from California State University Long Beach
San Jose State University came in at #11 for education this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 528 education degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
See the full education program report for San Jose State University
Washington State University placed #12 among the best education schools. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 565 education students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Washington State University earn around $55,708 in the first couple years of their career. Washington State University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. About 196 education degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $78,708. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #14 among the best education schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 599 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $66,032 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $17,334 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of California Davis earned the #15 position for education this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. About 143 education degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $59,285. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from University Of California Davis
California State University Sacramento came in at #16 for education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 762 education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $42,748 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,992.
Read more about the education program at California State University Sacramento
Saint Marys College Of California earned the #17 position for education this year. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Saint Marys College Of California graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 116 education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys College Of California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $71,937. Students borrow a median of $25,041 to complete this degree.
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California State University Chico earned the #18 position for education this year. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 119 education degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $24,450 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,429 to complete this degree.
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Seattle University earned the #19 position for education this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 142 education degrees were awarded at Seattle University in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Seattle University earn around $65,780 in the first couple years of their career. Seattle University graduates carry a median of $22,289 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Seattle University
University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences landed the #20 spot for education this year. University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of San Marcos. University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences awarded about 32 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences earn around $70,901 in the first couple years of their career.
See the full education program report for University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences
Seattle Pacific University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 320 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Seattle Pacific University earn around $62,950 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Loyola Marymount University placed #22 among the best education schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 269 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $84,670 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Loyola Marymount University
California State University East Bay placed #23 among the best education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. About 355 education degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Education graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $72,772 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from California State University East Bay
Westmont College placed #24 among the best education schools. Westmont College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Westmont College awarded about 11 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Westmont College earn around $44,240 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,773 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Westmont College
Gonzaga University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Gonzaga University awarded about 89 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Gonzaga University generally make around $52,267. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Gonzaga University
Rest of the Top 50 Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong education education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 302 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).
