Best colleges for education in California

Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in education, ranked by Compass Score.

Best colleges for education in California56 schools

56 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Schools in California.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Offers a bachelor’s program in education, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade B · Top 46%
2
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
3
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
4
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
5
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade B-
6
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A · Top 5%
7
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 7% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
8
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A · Top 5%
9
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 7% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade C+
10
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 6% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade B
11
Chapman University
Orange, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 9% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade C+
12
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 9% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
13
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
Excellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
14
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 5% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade C+
15
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 6% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade C+
16
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public
Top 14% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A · Top 7%
17
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 12% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade C+
18
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Public
Top 13% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A · Top 5%
19
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public
Top 13% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
20
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · Public
Top 8% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
21
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
Top 7% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
22
Biola University
La Mirada, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade C+
23
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 12% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade B-
24
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 8% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade B
25
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 18% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in education
- Value grade B · Top 36%

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
University of Southern California	$32,740	$18,000	$92,498	92%
University of California-Los Angeles	$12,548	$14,000	$82,511	93%
University of California-San Diego	$12,470	$15,500	$84,943	86%
University of California-Irvine	$14,251	$15,000	$80,735	87%
Pitzer College	$34,191	$16,750	$69,512	83%
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	$16,665	$18,500	$90,768	86%
University of California-Davis	$14,741	$13,000	$80,838	86%
San Diego State University	$15,364	$15,000	$64,909	76%
Pepperdine University	$58,098	$23,510	$82,939	83%
University of San Diego	$30,365	$22,940	$86,522	84%
Chapman University	$46,555	$20,500	$70,070	82%
University of the Pacific	$25,447	$19,500	$78,445	69%
California State University-Long Beach	$10,440	$14,289	$64,403	69%
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses	$5,524	$35,500	$39,248	62%
Dominican University of California	$35,333	$27,000	$84,713	78%
University of California-Santa Cruz	$17,890	$16,666	$68,396	75%
Point Loma Nazarene University	$38,729	$22,990	$63,998	77%
University of California-Riverside	$14,304	$17,500	$67,699	76%
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	$11,531	$16,000	$71,902	68%
San Jose State University	$13,760	$15,000	$78,988	69%
California State University-Fullerton	$6,555	$13,750	$62,951	70%
Biola University	$31,495	$23,875	$56,778	68%
University of Redlands	$30,031	$26,000	$72,690	67%
Saint Mary's College of California	$30,378	$23,691	$78,812	70%
Azusa Pacific University	$22,212	$23,219	$66,677	62%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Best colleges for education in California

How this list is made

University of Southern California

University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-San Diego

University of California-Irvine

Pitzer College

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

University of California-Davis

San Diego State University

Pepperdine University

University of San Diego

Chapman University

University of the Pacific

California State University-Long Beach

Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses

Dominican University of California

University of California-Santa Cruz

Point Loma Nazarene University

University of California-Riverside

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

San Jose State University

California State University-Fullerton

Biola University

University of Redlands

Saint Mary's College of California

Azusa Pacific University

Compare cost and outcomes

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