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University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CAPublic
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Quick Summary
California offers 61 accredited Computer Science bachelor's programs ranked by graduation rate, program completions, selectivity, and state salary outcomes. University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Irvine, and University of California-Los Angeles top our rankings, these schools combine strong graduation rates with substantial program completions, signaling both quality and scale. Bachelor's is the dominant entry point into the Computer Science job market and the level most California Computer Science graduates pursue.
61 accredited Computer Science bachelor's programs in California
Top-ranked: University of California-Berkeley
California median Computer Science salary: $145,770 (BLS OEWS)
Weighted on completions (35%), graduation rate (25%), selectivity (20%), career outcomes (20%)
Updated July 17, 2026
Sources: IPEDS 2024, BLS OEWS 2024, College Scorecard 2024
Key Takeaways
- 1.California offers 61 accredited Computer Science bachelor's programs as of 2026
- 2.University of California-Berkeley ranks #1 on our California Computer Science bachelor's list
- 3.California Computer Science salary median is $145,770 per BLS OEWS 2024 state data
- 4.Rankings use a transparent 4-factor weighted score covering completions, graduation rate, selectivity, and career outcomes, see methodology for full weighting
- 5.Compare alternative degree levels in this state on the hub page
Quick Verdict
California offers 61 accredited Computer Science bachelor's programs ranked by graduation rate, program completions, selectivity, and state salary outcomes. University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Irvine, and University of California-Los Angeles top our rankings, these schools combine strong graduation rates with substantial program completions, signaling both quality and scale. Bachelor's is the dominant entry point into the Computer Science job market and the level most California Computer Science graduates pursue.
Top Computer Science Bachelor's Programs in California
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University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CAPublic
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University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CAPublic
#4
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CAPrivate
#5
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CAPublic
#6
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CAPublic
#7
University of California-Davis
Davis, CAPublic
#8
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CAPublic
#9
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CAPrivate
#10
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CAPublic
Top Computer Science Bachelor's Programs in California, Complete Program Data
#1. University of California-Berkeley — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of California-Berkeley's bachelor's computer science program #1. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Berkeley, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,834/year | Graduation Rate: 96% | Score: 100.0
#2. University of California-Irvine — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of California-Irvine's bachelor's computer science program #2. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Irvine, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,834/year | Graduation Rate: 96% | Score: 80.9
#3. University of California-Los Angeles — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of California-Los Angeles's bachelor's computer science program #3. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Los Angeles, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,834/year | Graduation Rate: 92% | Score: 80.4
#4. University of Southern California — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of Southern California's bachelor's computer science program #4. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Los Angeles, CA | Type: Private | Tuition: $66,640/year | Graduation Rate: 92% | Score: 79.6
#5. University of California-San Diego — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of California-San Diego's bachelor's computer science program #5. Delivery: on-campus. Location: La Jolla, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,834/year | Graduation Rate: 81% | Score: 78.2
#6. University of California-Santa Cruz — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of California-Santa Cruz's bachelor's computer science program #6. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Santa Cruz, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,834/year | Graduation Rate: 93% | Score: 75.7
#7. University of California-Davis — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of California-Davis's bachelor's computer science program #7. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Davis, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,834/year | Graduation Rate: 91% | Score: 75.0
#8. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's bachelor's computer science program #8. Delivery: on-campus. Location: San Luis Obispo, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $5,742/year | Graduation Rate: 100% | Score: 74.4
#9. California Institute of Technology — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks California Institute of Technology's bachelor's computer science program #9. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Pasadena, CA | Type: Private | Tuition: $60,816/year | Graduation Rate: 88% | Score: 71.8
#10. University of California-Santa Barbara — Bachelor's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of California-Santa Barbara's bachelor's computer science program #10. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Santa Barbara, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,834/year | Graduation Rate: 90% | Score: 71.0
Top 5 California Computer Science Bachelor's Programs, Side by Side
| School | Tuition (annual) | Graduation Rate | Composite Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Berkeley | $11,834 | 96% | 100/100 |
| University of California-Irvine | $11,834 | 96% | 81/100 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $11,834 | 92% | 80/100 |
| University of Southern California | $66,640 | 92% | 80/100 |
| University of California-San Diego | $11,834 | 81% | 78/100 |
Source: IPEDS 2024, normalized by Hakia methodology
Bachelor's Curriculum in California
A bachelor's in Computer Science is the standard four-year path into the field. California's tech labor market is one of the largest in the country, with median Computer Science-related salaries at $145,770 reflecting both the depth of employment and the cost-of-living premium. Graduates of strong California bachelor's programs are recruited heavily by both California-headquartered tech companies and national employers with West Coast offices.
Computer Science bachelor's curricula in California typically cover algorithms and data structures, computer organization, operating systems, programming languages, software engineering practice, math through linear algebra and discrete math, and a sequence of upper-division electives. Most strong programs require or strongly encourage internships during the junior summer, and in California, the proximity to major employers makes those internships unusually accessible.
Who Should Pursue a California Computer Science Bachelor's
Choose a California bachelor's in Computer Science if you want the broadest set of post-graduation options, plan to compete for tier-1 industry jobs, or might pursue graduate study. Bachelor's is the right level for the vast majority of students entering the field, both in absolute numbers and in long-term earnings expectations.
California Tech Industry & Infrastructure
California concentrates roughly a third of all U.S. venture capital investment and houses the headquarters of every company in the top five U.S. tech market caps. For a CS graduate, that translates into denser-than-anywhere hiring pipelines — but it also means the supply of CS graduates is unusually large, and competition for entry-level roles at named employers is intense.
Bay Area
San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley
Global center for consumer internet, AI/ML research, and high-growth software startups. Entry-level total compensation at named employers regularly clears $200,000 for new bachelor's graduates from top programs.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
Quieter but substantial tech market centered on entertainment-tech (Netflix, Disney Streaming, Riot, Activision-Blizzard), aerospace-adjacent software (SpaceX, Anduril, Northrop), and emerging fintech and consumer-app clusters.
San Diego
San Diego County
Smaller but dense in defense, biotech-adjacent software, and Qualcomm-anchored wireless engineering.
California does not levy a separate state-level tech tax credit at scale; the federal R&D credit is the relevant lever for most tech employers.
California Regulation Affecting Computer Science Graduates
Several California laws directly shape what CS graduates work on — particularly anyone joining a privacy, security, data, or AI team. These create both job market demand (compliance is a substantial employer concern) and constrain technical decisions in ways federal law does not.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA / CPRA)
Strongest US state privacy law. Requires explicit consumer rights around data access, deletion, and sale opt-out for any business serving California residents at scale.
Engineers joining privacy, data, or security teams at California employers engage with CCPA daily.
Read moreAB-2273 — California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act
Requires data minimization, default privacy protections, and impact assessments for online products likely to be accessed by minors.
Drove significant engineering work at every consumer internet company headquartered in California.
Read moreSB-21 and state AI guidance
California has issued executive-branch guidance on generative AI in state government and is the most active US state legislature on AI policy.
Engineers building AI products serving California users should expect material compliance overhead.
Read moreCalifornia Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA)
First US state privacy enforcement agency. Issues regulations under CCPA/CPRA and brings enforcement actions.
Tech-adjacent compliance work has grown substantially since CPPA stood up.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in California
California recognizes Professional Engineer (PE) licensure in software engineering, but it is rarely required for industry work. ABET-EAC accredited SE degrees count toward PE eligibility; ABET-CAC CS does not. Most California CS graduates never seek PE licensure.
California licensing boardCalifornia Financial Aid Programs
Cal Grant A/B/C
State grantUp to ~$12,570/yr for UC, ~$5,742/yr for CSU, ~$1,094/yr for community college
California residents pursuing undergraduate degrees with demonstrated financial need
Middle Class Scholarship
State grantVaries by income tier
California undergrads at UC and CSU with family income up to $217,000
California College Promise Grant
Community college fee waiverFull enrollment fee waiver
California residents at community college with financial need
Chafee Grant
State grantUp to $5,000/yr
Current or former foster youth pursuing vocational training or college
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bachelor's Computer Science programs are in California?
Our 2026 rankings cover all accredited Bachelor's Computer Science programs in California, ranked by program completions (IPEDS), graduation rate, selectivity, and state salary outcomes from BLS OEWS.
What is the top-ranked Bachelor's Computer Science program in California?
University of California-Berkeley leads our 2026 California Bachelor's Computer Science rankings based on a 4-factor weighted score covering completions, graduation rate, selectivity, and career outcomes. See our methodology page for full weighting details.
What does a Computer Science bachelor's cost in California?
Public in-state tuition at California universities ranges roughly $5,500 (community college transfer) to $15,000 per year at UC campuses. Private school tuition runs $50,000-$70,000+ per year. Out-of-state tuition at California public universities runs roughly $35,000-$45,000. Add living costs, especially in coastal metros.
Should I choose a Computer Science bachelor's in California over going out of state?
If you're a California resident and admitted to a strong UC or CSU campus, the in-state cost advantage is substantial and the regional employer network is excellent. Out-of-state attendance only makes sense if you're admitted to a meaningfully stronger program elsewhere or have specific reasons (family, target employer, partner location).
How We Rank California Computer Science Bachelor's Programs
Based on 61 programs from IPEDS 2024
We analyzed 61 accredited Computer Science bachelor's programs in California using IPEDS 2024 enrollment and graduation data plus BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data. Rankings are produced algorithmically, schools cannot pay for placement.
Ranking Factors
Program Completions35%
Annual graduates in this specific field (CIP code). Larger programs indicate established departments with more course offerings and career services. Source: IPEDS Completions.
Graduation Rate25%
Percentage of students completing their degree within 150% of expected time. Higher rates indicate better student support and program quality. Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates survey.
Selectivity20%
Admission rate (lower = more selective). For open-admission institutions, graduation rate is used as a proxy. More selective institutions typically have stronger academic environments.
Career Outcomes20%
California median Computer Science salary of $145,770 is factored into scoring based on local job market strength. Source: BLS OEWS 2024.
Data Sources
- IPEDS 2024 — Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
- BLS OEWS 2024 — State and metro salary data by occupation
- College Scorecard 2024 — Federal post-graduation earnings outcomes
Related Rankings
State HubBest Computer Science Programs in California (Hub)Associate's ProgramsBest Computer Science Associate's Programs in CaliforniaMaster's ProgramsBest Computer Science Master's Programs in CaliforniaDoctoral ProgramsBest Computer Science Doctoral Programs in CaliforniaNational RankingsBest Computer Science Bachelor's Programs (National)Career GuideComputer Science Career Guide
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.