2026 Best General Psychology Schools in California
General Psychology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general psychology programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 200 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general psychology students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Psychology in California
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 general psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Psychology
University Of California Davis tops our 2026 ranking of the best general psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 26 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
See the full general psychology program report for University Of California Davis
Students looking for a strong general psychology program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 449 general psychology degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from San Jose State University
Santa Clara University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 98 general psychology degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. General Psychology graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $38,587 early in their careers. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $17,667 in student loans.
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California State University East Bay is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 368 general psychology degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. General Psychology graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $37,702 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general psychology program at California State University East Bay
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general psychology, ranking #5. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 232 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from University Of Southern California earn around $34,139 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general psychology program report for University Of Southern California
University Of San Diego landed the #6 spot for general psychology this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. University Of San Diego awarded about 99 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $35,595 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,293.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 765 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $46,534 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,500.
See the full general psychology program report for University Of California Los Angeles
University Of San Francisco earned the #8 position for general psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Francisco awarded about 124 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $36,734 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,315.
See the full general psychology program report for University Of San Francisco
University Of California San Diego came in at #9 for general psychology this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 351 general psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $29,144. Typical student debt for the program is $16,124.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #10 position for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 744 general psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $27,511. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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California State University Sacramento ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 647 general psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $45,601 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general psychology from California State University Sacramento
San Francisco State University earned the #12 position for general psychology this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 465 general psychology degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $34,803. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general psychology program report for San Francisco State University
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #13 spot for general psychology this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 465 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $30,730 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,902.
Read more about the general psychology program at University Of California Santa Cruz
California State University Fullerton came in at #14 for general psychology this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,092 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $27,965 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,998 to complete this degree.
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Cuesta College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Cuesta College awarded about 134 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Students borrow a median of $18,958 to complete this degree.
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Pepperdine University placed #16 among the best general psychology schools. 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 290 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $35,285 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,580 to complete this degree.
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Loyola Marymount University landed the #17 spot for general psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 125 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $30,848. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Loyola Marymount University
Chapman University came in at #18 for general psychology this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 151 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $28,661 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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California State University Chico landed the #19 spot for general psychology this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 284 general psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $40,027. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine earned the #20 position for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 486 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $27,115 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $14,883 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for University Of California Irvine
Sonoma State University placed #21 among the best general psychology schools. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 229 general psychology degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. General Psychology graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $33,006 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University placed #22 among the best general psychology schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 695 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $46,005. Students borrow a median of $14,301 to complete this degree.
See the full general psychology program report for San Diego State University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #23 for general psychology this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 164 general psychology degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $36,403 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
Read more about the general psychology program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Saddleback College earned the #24 position for general psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Saddleback College awarded about 186 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Saddleback College earn around $15,890 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,707.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Saddleback College
California State University Fresno ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 567 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fresno in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $48,898. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $13,889 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for California State University Fresno
Rest of the Top 50 General Psychology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general psychology this year:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for general psychology:
More General Psychology Rankings
View All General Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 200 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.
