2027 Best Education Schools in California
Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 117 schools to find the best for education students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Education in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall education education in California.
Top Schools in Education
Loma Linda University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in education. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Loma Linda. About 12 education degrees were awarded at Loma Linda University in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Loma Linda University earn around $93,833 in the first couple years of their career. Loma Linda University graduates carry a median of $25,094 in student loans.
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Santa Clara University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in education, ranking #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 120 education degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Education graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $73,908 early in their careers. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from Santa Clara University
University Of California Berkeley is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 177 education degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong education program will find one at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 342 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $107,553 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #5 spot this year. 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. There were roughly 160 education students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University 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. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Stanford University
University Of California San Diego came in at #6 for education this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 147 education degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Education graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $91,736 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,101.
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University Of California Irvine placed #7 among the best education schools. 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 513 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $63,694. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $15,575 in student loans.
See the full education program report for University Of California Irvine
University Of Southern California placed #8 among the best education schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 704 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $63,708 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from University Of Southern California
California State University Northridge placed #9 among the best education schools. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. About 610 education degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $74,082 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
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Concordia University Irvine placed #10 among the best education schools. Set in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Irvine graduates 58% of students within six years. Concordia University Irvine awarded about 368 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of $102,229 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,085.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #11 position for education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 302 education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $85,409. Students borrow a median of $15,732 to complete this degree.
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Pepperdine University came in at #12 for education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. Pepperdine University awarded about 194 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $79,183. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Pepperdine University
San Jose State University earned the #13 position for education this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 590 education degrees in the most recent data year.
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California State University Sacramento landed the #14 spot for education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 628 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $46,261 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,992 to complete this degree.
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Point Loma Nazarene University placed #15 among the best education schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 301 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Point Loma Nazarene University earn around $54,451 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the education program at Point Loma Nazarene University
Dominican University Of California ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Dominican University Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Rafael. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 education degrees were awarded at Dominican University Of California in the most recent year. Education graduates of Dominican University Of California earn a median of $70,752 early in their careers. Dominican University Of California graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis landed the #17 spot for education this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 108 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Education graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $59,285 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,404.
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University Of The Pacific ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 176 education degrees were awarded at University Of The Pacific in the most recent year. Education graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of $90,009 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,562.
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Westmont College placed #19 among the best education schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, Westmont College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 13 education students who graduated with this degree at Westmont College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Westmont College generally make around $44,240. Typical student debt for the program is $23,773.
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California Lutheran University landed the #20 spot for education this year. California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 137 education students who graduated with this degree at California Lutheran University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from California Lutheran University generally make around $81,749. California Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $22,727 in student loans.
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California State University Chico placed #21 among the best education schools. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 105 education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $24,455 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,429 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Diego ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 237 education degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $58,701. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795.
More information about a degree in education from University Of San Diego
University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences earned the #23 position for education this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences awarded about 26 education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences generally make around $70,901.
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Loyola Marymount University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 280 education degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $87,015. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans.
See the full education program report for Loyola Marymount University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 240 education students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $40,899. Students borrow a median of $21,244 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Rest of the Top 50 Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s education ranking:
View All Education Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 117 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.