Best College ROI in Ca 2026
172 colleges in Ca analyzed for return on investment. Bethesda University leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ca has 172 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 48 public institutions and 124 private ones. Across the 172 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $26K and earn $74K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
87% of Ca colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Bethesda University (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences). The lowest median debt comes from Epic Bible College & Graduate School at $9K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ca
Bethesda University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ca's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $10K in median debt.
Dominican University of California
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Programming. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Claremont McKenna College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $17K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ca
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethesda University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $10K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | Dominican University of California(private) | Computer Programming | $11K | $95K | A (100) |
| 3 | Claremont McKenna College(private) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (98) |
| 4 | Pitzer College(private) | Mathematics | $16K | $78K | A (98) |
| 5 | Scripps College(private) | Mathematics | $15K | $78K | A (98) |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego(public) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (98) |
| 7 | California State University-Chico(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 8 | California State University-Monterey Bay(public) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 9 | University of California-Berkeley(public) | Computer Science | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 10 | University of California-Davis(public) | Computer Science | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 11 | University of California-Irvine(public) | Computer Science | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 12 | University of California-Merced(public) | Applied Mathematics | $18K | $78K | A (97) |
| 13 | University of California-Santa Barbara(public) | Statistics | $17K | $78K | A (97) |
| 14 | Westcliff University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 15 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 16 | Occidental College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 17 | Pomona College(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 18 | Stanford University(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 19 | University of California-Los Angeles(public) | Applied Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 20 | University of California-Riverside(public) | Computer Science | $19K | $95K | A (96) |
College debt and earnings data for Ca is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bethesda University has the best ROI in Ca with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $10K in median debt.
Across 172 Ca colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $26K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $74K.
Bethesda University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ca has 172 colleges in our database (48 public, 124 private). Of the 172 with reportable ROI, 87% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).