2027 Best General Economics Schools in California
General Economics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 92 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general economics students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Economics 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 economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Economics
Santa Clara University tops our 2027 ranking of the best general economics schools. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 86 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $76,606. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Get the full general economics details for Santa Clara University
San Jose State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 50 general economics degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
See the full general economics program report for San Jose State University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. 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 66 general economics degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $67,501. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general economics from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
De Anza College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cupertino. There were roughly 70 general economics students who graduated with this degree at De Anza College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete this degree.
Get the full general economics details for De Anza College
Diablo Valley College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general economics, ranking #5. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 87 general economics degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $27,813 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
See the full general economics program report for Diablo Valley College
College Of San Mateo ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. There were roughly 72 general economics students who graduated with this degree at College Of San Mateo in the most recent data year. College Of San Mateo graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans.
Read more about the general economics program at College Of San Mateo
Pepperdine University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. About 51 general economics degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $54,267 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
See the full general economics program report for Pepperdine University
University Of California Irvine ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 228 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $44,087 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,499.
See the full general economics program report for University Of California Irvine
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #9 spot for general economics this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 70 general economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Students who receive their general economics degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $50,518 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,017.
Get the full general economics details for University Of California Santa Cruz
San Diego State University earned the #10 position for general economics this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 182 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $44,125. Typical student debt for the program is $15,250.
Get the full general economics details for San Diego State University
West Valley College placed #11 among the best general economics schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. There were roughly 178 general economics students who graduated with this degree at West Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete this degree.
See the full general economics program report for West Valley College
Orange Coast College landed the #12 spot for general economics this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Orange Coast College awarded about 70 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Orange Coast College earn around $46,306 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general economics program at Orange Coast College
Pitzer College landed the #13 spot for general economics this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Pitzer College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Pitzer College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Pitzer College earn around $59,767 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general economics from Pitzer College
Ohlone Community College came in at #14 for general economics this year. Ohlone Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fremont. About 40 general economics degrees were awarded at Ohlone Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $22,545 in their early career. Ohlone Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
Get the full general economics details for Ohlone Community College
California State University Fullerton ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 28 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $39,993 in their early career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Read more about the general economics program at California State University Fullerton
College Of The Canyons earned the #16 position for general economics this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. About 108 general economics degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general economics program at College Of The Canyons
California State University Sacramento earned the #17 position for general economics this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. About 132 general economics degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $49,312 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,625.
More information about a degree in general economics from California State University Sacramento
Saint Marys College Of California landed the #18 spot for general economics this year. Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 16 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $59,760. Saint Marys College Of California graduates carry a median of $25,041 in student loans.
See the full general economics program report for Saint Marys College Of California
San Diego Miramar College landed the #19 spot for general economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 25 general economics degrees were awarded at San Diego Miramar College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $41,038 in their early career. San Diego Miramar College graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general economics from San Diego Miramar College
San Francisco State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 38 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from San Francisco State University earn around $46,310 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
See the full general economics program report for San Francisco State University
California State University Long Beach earned the #21 position for general economics this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 55 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $38,475 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,375.
More information about a degree in general economics from California State University Long Beach
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #22 among the best general economics schools. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. There were roughly 21 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $80,047 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
Get the full general economics details for Santa Rosa Junior College
Foothill College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. Foothill College awarded about 44 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $94,152 early in their careers. Foothill College graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans.
See the full general economics program report for Foothill College
California State University East Bay ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. California State University East Bay awarded about 16 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $46,408. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete this degree.
Get the full general economics details for California State University East Bay
East Los Angeles College earned the #25 position for general economics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Monterey Park. There were roughly 56 general economics students who graduated with this degree at East Los Angeles College in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of East Los Angeles College earn a median of $33,595 early in their careers. East Los Angeles College graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans.
Get the full general economics details for East Los Angeles College
Rest of the Top 50 General Economics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general economics ranking:
More General Economics Rankings
View All General Economics Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 92 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.
