2024 Best Value Math Schools in California
22
Ranked Colleges
7,234
Degrees Awarded
$15,300
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Math Schools in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 30,202 people earned their degree in mathematics, making the major the 35th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, mathematics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $45,168 and had an average of $21,863 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 7,234 mathematics graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,654 and $15,933 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Math Schools in California” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in mathematics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great mathematics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the mathematics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Mathematics Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Math Schools in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Math Schools in California
The colleges and universities below are the best for california math students.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Mathematics in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 215 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCLA is $15,023 for california math students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Mathematics at University of California - Los Angeles
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Math Schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 144 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Berkeley is $16,032 for california math students.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full UC Berkeley Mathematics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Math Schools in California. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 240 ’s math degrees to qualified students.
UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $15,240 for california math students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read more about Mathematics at UCSD
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Math Schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #4 spot on the list. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 135 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for california math students.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California State University - Long Beach Mathematics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Math Schools in California. University of California - Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 153 ’s math degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $15,768 for california math students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full UC Davis Mathematics Report
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Math Schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #5 spot on the list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s math degrees to 189 students in 2020-2021.
UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $16,252 for California Math students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mathematics at University of California - Santa Barbara
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Math Schools in California list. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 62 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $20,677 for california math students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Mathematics at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
With a ranking of #8, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 330 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Irvine is $12,209 for California Math students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Mathematics at UC Irvine
California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 76 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUN also took the #17 spot in our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Northridge is $8,523 for california math students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mathematics at California State University - Northridge
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California ranking, coming in at #10. Cal Poly Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 136 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $14,304 for california math students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Mathematics at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 142 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Cruz is $17,930 for california math students.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mathematics at UC Santa Cruz
California State University - East Bay came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Math Schools in California ranking. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 45 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State East Bay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - East Bay is $13,298 for California Math students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - East Bay Mathematics Report
With a ranking of #13, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California list. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 208 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california math students list, UCR has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Riverside is $11,822 for california math students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read full report on Mathematics at UCR
California State University - Sacramento came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Math Schools in California ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 78 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list. It costs about $11,178 for california math students per year to attend California State University - Sacramento.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Sacramento Mathematics Report
California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Math Schools in California ranking. CSUMB is located in Seaside, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s math degrees to qualified students.
CSUMB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list. It costs about $13,597 for California Math students per year to attend CSUMB.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mathematics at California State University - Monterey Bay
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California ranking, coming in at #16. San Bernardino, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s math degrees to 76 students in 2020-2021.
CSUSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Bernardino is $8,107 for California Math students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mathematics at CSUSB
With a ranking of #17, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California list. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s math degrees to qualified students.
SDSU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Diego State University is $13,845 for California Math students.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mathematics at SDSU
San Jose State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California ranking, coming in at #18. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified ’s math students in 2020-2021.
San Jose State also took the #18 spot in our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $16,542 for California Math students per year to attend San Jose State.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mathematics at San Jose State
California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Math Schools in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 41 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUDH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSUDH is $4,026 for california math students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full CSUDH Mathematics Report
Humboldt State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Math Schools in California list. Located in Arcata, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s math students in 2020-2021.
Humboldt State University also made our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Humboldt State University is $14,956 for California Math students.
Full Humboldt State University Mathematics Report
Occidental College did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California ranking, coming in at #21. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 16 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
Oxy also made our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Oxy is $34,032 for california math students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Mathematics at Oxy
University of Southern California did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Math Schools in California ranking, coming in at #22. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 31 ’s math degrees in 2020-2021.
USC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Mathematics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for USC is $32,569 for California Math students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Mathematics at USC
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.