Best Mathematics Colleges in California2026 Rankings
With 68 Mathematics 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 11 public and 19 private Mathematics programs in this ranking. Public universities average $41,027 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 Mathematics graduates average $38,027, with a state-wide graduation rate of 82% for ranked programs.
Not sure if your profile matches these schools?
Every Mathematics program here has a different student profile it targets. Before you finalize your list, it's worth understanding where you stand.
Drop your application data into our Free Application Review. Our AI will analyze your admission chances and stats in 2 minutes. Get practical next steps for improvements where it matters most.
Get My Free Application Review →2026 Rankings: Mathematics Programs in California
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech)Private | Perfect· 57 | 3% | 93% | $7,003 | $102,669 | 3:1 | 26 | 1,023 |
| 2 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | Perfect· 54 | 4% | 93% | $1,323 | $89,527 | 6:1 | 49 | 7,841 |
| 3 | Harvey Mudd CollegePrivate | Elite· 49 | 13% | 94% | $18,937 | $107,923 | 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 | $50,712 | 7:1 | 39 | 1,638 |
| 6 | University of Southern CaliforniaPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 10% | 92% | $18,993 | $63,275 | 9:1 | 83 | 20,817 |
| 7 | Occidental CollegePrivate | Excellent· 44 | 40% | 85% | $17,577 | $37,306 | 9:1 | 31 | 1,844 |
| 8 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoPublic | Excellent· 43 | 30% | 85% | $11,372 | $53,136 | 18:1 | 78 | 21,521 |
| 9 | Scripps CollegePrivate | Excellent· 42 | 34% | 87% | $22,440 | $37,612 | 11:1 | 48 | 1,077 |
| 10 | University of San DiegoPrivate | Great· 41 | 47% | 82% | $19,998 | $55,049 | 14:1 | 43 | 5,619 |
| 11 | University of California-San DiegoPublic | Great· 41 | 25% | 88% | $10,389 | $76,592 | 19:1 | 71 | 33,787 |
| 12 | University of California-DavisPublic | Great· 41 | 42% | 85% | $12,304 | $29,300 | 21:1 | 91 | 31,777 |
| 13 | University of California-Santa BarbaraPublic | Great· 41 | 28% | 85% | $11,398 | $46,447 | 17:1 | 53 | 23,205 |
| 14 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Great· 40 | 44% | 88% | $41,599 | $72,660 | 10:1 | 45 | 6,235 |
| 15 | University of California-Los AngelesPublic | Great· 40 | 9% | 93% | $11,065 | $41,763 | 18:1 | 75 | 33,040 |
| 16 | University of California-IrvinePublic | Great· 40 | 26% | 86% | $11,769 | $40,474 | 18:1 | 71 | 29,494 |
| 17 | University of California-BerkeleyPublic | Great· 40 | 12% | 93% | $11,424 | $46,674 | 18:1 | 80 | 33,073 |
| 18 | Pitzer CollegePrivate | Great· 40 | 17% | 83% | $17,911 | $33,658 | 10:1 | 62 | 1,191 |
| 19 | Fresno Pacific UniversityPrivate | Great· 39 | 58% | 56% | $11,116 | $42,313 | 8:1 | 62 | 1,614 |
| 20 | California State University-Long BeachPublic | Great· 38 | 47% | 70% | $9,063 | $32,162 | 19:1 | 84 | 34,131 |
| 21 | University of California-RiversidePublic | Great· 38 | 63% | 77% | $12,449 | $27,227 | 23:1 | 60 | 22,644 |
| 22 | University of RedlandsPrivate | Strong· 37 | 81% | 71% | $20,649 | $51,944 | 11:1 | 38 | 2,095 |
| 23 | University of California-Santa CruzPublic | Strong· 37 | 63% | 74% | $13,001 | $37,107 | 22:1 | 56 | 17,812 |
| 24 | Pacific Union CollegePrivate | Strong· 37 | 42% | 51% | $18,211 | $62,855 | 11:1 | 41 | 910 |
| 25 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 40% | 80% | $32,869 | $45,330 | 11:1 | 50 | 7,171 |
| 26 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 50% | 85% | $40,201 | $49,653 | 13:1 | 43 | 3,629 |
| 27 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 56% | 80% | $39,414 | $41,757 | 12:1 | 54 | 7,629 |
| 28 | San Diego State UniversityPublic | Strong· 36 | 34% | 78% | $14,205 | $42,235 | 22:1 | 79 | 33,654 |
| 29 | William Jessup UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 77% | 61% | $18,555 | $39,364 | 9:1 | 28 | 1,021 |
| 30 | Concordia University-IrvinePrivate | Strong· 36 | 60% | 63% | $25,220 | $62,033 | 13:1 | 27 | 1,456 |