2026 Best Women’s Studies Schools in California
Women’s Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their women’s studies programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 98 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for women’s studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Women’s Studies in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall women’s studies education in California.
Top Schools in Women’s Studies
No school ranked higher than University Of California Berkeley this year for women's studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 14 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their women's studies degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $34,559 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,740.
See the full women's studies program report for University Of California Berkeley
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the top schools for women's studies. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Women's Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $32,341 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
Read more about the women's studies program at University Of California Santa Barbara
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Santa Cruz one of the top schools for women's studies. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. About 27 women's studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Women's Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $31,140 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,747.
Get the full women's studies details for University Of California Santa Cruz
A rank of #4 makes California State University San Marcos one of the top schools for women's studies. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 10 women's studies degrees were awarded at California State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $48,726. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $17,527 in student loans.
See the full women's studies program report for California State University San Marcos
Sonoma State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in women's studies, ranking #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Women's Studies graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $35,263 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete this degree.
Get the full women's studies details for Sonoma State University
California State University Long Beach placed #6 among the best women's studies schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Long Beach awarded about 13 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the women's studies program make about $27,726 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $12,187 in student loans.
More information about a degree in women's studies from California State University Long Beach
California State University Sacramento landed the #7 spot for women's studies this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. About 20 women's studies degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $30,628. Typical student debt for the program is $18,120.
More information about a degree in women's studies from California State University Sacramento
California State University Fullerton landed the #8 spot for women's studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Women's Studies graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $25,305 early in their careers. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
See the full women's studies program report for California State University Fullerton
Mt San Antonio College landed the #9 spot for women's studies this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 61 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the women's studies program make about $44,391 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384.
Get the full women's studies details for Mt San Antonio College
San Diego State University came in at #10 for women's studies this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 14 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their women's studies degree from San Diego State University earn around $29,267 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $20,499 in student loans.
Get the full women's studies details for San Diego State University
Chabot College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best women's studies schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public university. Chabot College awarded about 13 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Women's Studies graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,122.
More information about a degree in women's studies from Chabot College
West Valley College earned the #12 position for women's studies this year. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. There were roughly 18 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at West Valley College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the women's studies program make about $25,378 in their early career. West Valley College graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans.
Get the full women's studies details for West Valley College
City College Of San Francisco ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best women's studies schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. City College Of San Francisco awarded about 15 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the women's studies program make about $100,031 in their early career. City College Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans.
Get the full women's studies details for City College Of San Francisco
East Los Angeles College came in at #14 for women's studies this year. Set in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 14 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at East Los Angeles College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from East Los Angeles College generally make around $33,595. East Los Angeles College graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans.
More information about a degree in women's studies from East Los Angeles College
Citrus College landed the #15 spot for women's studies this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. About 23 women's studies degrees were awarded at Citrus College in the most recent year.
Get the full women's studies details for Citrus College
San Jose City College placed #16 among the best women's studies schools. San Jose City College is a large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose City College awarded about 21 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from San Jose City College generally make around $23,253.
More information about a degree in women's studies from San Jose City College
Sierra College landed the #17 spot for women's studies this year. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. There were roughly 14 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at Sierra College in the most recent data year. Women's Studies graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete this degree.
See the full women's studies program report for Sierra College
Los Angeles Mission College came in at #18 for women's studies this year. Los Angeles Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Sylmar. About 10 women's studies degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Mission College in the most recent year.
See the full women's studies program report for Los Angeles Mission College
More Women's Studies Rankings
View All Women’s Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 98 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.
