Best Schools for Education in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall education education in California.
Top Schools in Education
No school ranked higher than University Of California Los Angeles this year for education. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 354 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $107,100 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Stanford University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 171 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $85,162 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from Stanford University
Students looking for a strong education program will find one at University Of California Irvine, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 577 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $63,497 in the first couple years of their career. 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
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for education. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 175 education degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Education graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
More information about a degree in education from University Of California Berkeley
University Of Southern California came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school 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. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $67,036. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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Santa Clara University landed the #6 spot for education this year. 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. There were roughly 80 education students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,548 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
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Concordia University Irvine earned the #7 position for education this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 411 education students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $102,778 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,085 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from Concordia University Irvine
University Of California San Diego came in at #8 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. There were roughly 133 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $91,736 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,101.
More information about a degree in education from University Of California San Diego
California State University Northridge placed #9 among 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. About 621 education degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Education graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $74,099 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from California State University Northridge
California State University Long Beach ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 284 education degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $82,272 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from California State University Long Beach
San Jose State University placed #11 among the best education schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 528 education students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Read more about the education program at San Jose State University
Pepperdine University earned the #12 position for education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is 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. Graduates of the education program make about $78,708 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,645.
See the full education program report for Pepperdine University
University Of California Davis placed #13 among the best education schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 143 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $59,285 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from University Of California Davis
California State University Sacramento landed the #14 spot 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. California State University Sacramento awarded about 762 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $42,748 in the first couple years of their 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 landed the #15 spot for education this year. Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. About 70% of students finish within six years. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 116 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Saint Marys College Of California earn a median of $71,937 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,041 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Saint Marys College Of California
California State University Chico placed #16 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 119 education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Education graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $24,450 early in their careers. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $21,429 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from California State University Chico
University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of San Marcos. There were roughly 32 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $70,901 in their early career.
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Loyola Marymount University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of 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%. About 269 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 $84,670. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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California State University East Bay came in at #19 for education this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $72,772. 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 #20 among the best education schools. Westmont College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 70% of students finish within six years. Westmont College awarded about 11 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $44,240 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,773.
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California Lutheran University placed #21 among the best education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Thousand Oaks. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California Lutheran University awarded about 145 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from California Lutheran University earn around $75,566 in the first couple years of their career. California Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $22,727 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from California Lutheran University
California State University Bakersfield placed #22 among the best education schools. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 317 education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Bakersfield in the most recent data year.
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Fresno Pacific University placed #23 among the best education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fresno. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 201 education students who graduated with this degree at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of $72,710 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Fresno Pacific University
University Of La Verne earned the #24 position for education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of La Verne. University Of La Verne graduates 63% of students within six years. University Of La Verne awarded about 373 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $35,364 in their early career. University Of La Verne graduates carry a median of $23,533 in student loans.
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Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best education schools. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 202 education students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $53,535 in their early career. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the education program at Point Loma Nazarene University
Rest of the Top 50 Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s education ranking:
Notes and References
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 · 186 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.
