Best value colleges for Computer Science in California.2026 Rankings
With 59 Computer Science programs spread across California, narrowing your list takes real data. Our algorithm ranks each school on six factors — admission rate, graduation rate, net price, median graduate earnings, student-faculty ratio, and major breadth — so you can compare apples to apples before you apply.
California offers 13 public and 17 private Computer Science programs in this ranking. Public universities average $38,347 for in-state students, making them a strong value option. The most competitive school on the list — California Institute of Technology (Caltech) — accepts 3% of applicants. Early-career earnings for Computer Science graduates average $37,577, with a state-wide graduation rate of 82% for ranked programs.
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ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perfect· 57 | 3% | 93% | $7,003 | $173,344 | 3:1 | 26 | 1,023 | |
| 2 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | Perfect· 54 | 4% | 93% | $1,323 | $138,613 | 6:1 | 49 | 7,841 |
| 3 | Harvey Mudd CollegePrivate | Elite· 49 | 13% | 94% | $18,937 | $132,265 | 8:1 | 26 | 915 |
| 4 | Claremont McKenna CollegePrivate | Elite· 48 | 11% | 95% | $14,929 | $68,541 | 8:1 | 43 | 1,379 |
| 5 | Pomona CollegePrivate | Elite· 48 | 7% | 93% | $5,099 | $143,084 | 7:1 | 39 | 1,638 |
| 6 | Excellent· 45 | 10% | 92% | $18,993 | $137,284 | 9:1 | 83 | 20,817 | |
| 7 | Occidental CollegePrivate | Excellent· 44 | 40% | 85% | $17,577 | $63,845 | 9:1 | 31 | 1,844 |
| 8 | Excellent· 43 | 30% | 85% | $11,372 | $111,141 | 18:1 | 78 | 21,521 | |
| 9 | Scripps CollegePrivate | Excellent· 42 | 34% | 87% | $22,440 | $37,612 | 11:1 | 48 | 1,077 |
| 10 | Great· 41 | 42% | 85% | $12,304 | $41,123 | 21:1 | 91 | 31,777 | |
| 11 | Great· 41 | 25% | 88% | $10,389 | $112,006 | 19:1 | 71 | 33,787 | |
| 12 | Great· 41 | 28% | 85% | $11,398 | $107,776 | 17:1 | 53 | 23,205 | |
| 13 | University of San DiegoPrivate | Great· 41 | 47% | 82% | $19,998 | $104,948 | 14:1 | 43 | 5,619 |
| 14 | Pitzer CollegePrivate | Great· 40 | 17% | 83% | $17,911 | $33,658 | 10:1 | 62 | 1,191 |
| 15 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Great· 40 | 44% | 88% | $41,599 | $91,851 | 10:1 | 45 | 6,235 |
| 16 | Great· 40 | 12% | 93% | $11,424 | $149,866 | 18:1 | 80 | 33,073 | |
| 17 | Great· 40 | 26% | 86% | $11,769 | $82,161 | 18:1 | 71 | 29,494 | |
| 18 | Great· 40 | 9% | 93% | $11,065 | $41,763 | 18:1 | 75 | 33,040 | |
| 19 | Fresno Pacific UniversityPrivate | Great· 39 | 58% | 56% | $11,116 | $42,313 | 8:1 | 62 | 1,614 |
| 20 | Great· 38 | 47% | 70% | $9,063 | $60,378 | 19:1 | 84 | 34,131 | |
| 21 | Great· 38 | 63% | 77% | $12,449 | $81,034 | 23:1 | 60 | 22,644 | |
| 22 | Strong· 37 | 63% | 74% | $13,001 | $75,150 | 22:1 | 56 | 17,812 | |
| 23 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 56% | 80% | $39,414 | $67,125 | 12:1 | 54 | 7,629 |
| 24 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 50% | 85% | $40,201 | $49,653 | 13:1 | 43 | 3,629 |
| 25 | Strong· 36 | 34% | 78% | $14,205 | $74,523 | 22:1 | 79 | 33,654 | |
| 26 | William Jessup UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 77% | 61% | $18,555 | $39,364 | 9:1 | 28 | 1,021 |
| 27 | Biola UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 60% | 69% | $25,038 | $42,882 | 14:1 | 48 | 3,390 |
| 28 | Strong· 34 | 89% | 74% | $23,759 | $68,398 | 13:1 | 38 | 2,374 | |
| 29 | Strong· 34 | 80% | 65% | $12,948 | $58,993 | 18:1 | 90 | 26,757 | |
| 30 | Good· 33 | 74% | 67% | $11,196 | $60,740 | 23:1 | 60 | 24,271 |