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Key Takeaways
Best mobile development degree programs: UC Berkeley, U of California-Irvine, UCLA
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $1,104 to $66,640/year
Diablo Valley College offers the most affordable option at $1,288/yr
Mobile Development degree programs available: 90 associate's, 37 master's, 13 doctoral in California
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
27 online mobile development degree programs in California
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
California community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
90 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Google, Apple, Meta, Netflix
Tech hubs in San Francisco and San Jose
Hakia Research 2026
Mobile Development degree programs near 231+ cities across California
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked California Mobile Development programs
We rank 202 accredited mobile development programs in California using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Are Mobile Development Degree Programs in California Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Mobile Development Degree Rankings in California
Compare the top-ranked Mobile Development programs in California by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Mobile Development Programs in California
Program Landscape
California offers 90 accredited associate's degree programs in mobile development, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include Diablo Valley College, Orange Coast College, De Anza College, which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in California offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $1,590/yr, significantly less than four-year university tuition. Students completing associate's degrees can pursue entry-level technical positions and transfer opportunities, with entry-level salaries averaging $80,174 in California.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with California's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like Google, Apple, Meta hiring for technical support, junior development, and IT specialist positions.
Curriculum & Specializations
Programs typically include coursework in programming fundamentals, database management, networking basics, and software development. Among mobile development schools in California, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their mobile development degrees in California.
Show all 90 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Citrus College | Glendora, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 53.1 |
| #7 | Clovis Community College | Fresno, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 45.0 |
| #8 | College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 52.7 |
| #9 | Irvine Valley College | Irvine, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 52.5 |
| #10 | San Diego Miramar College | San Diego, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 52.5 |
| #11 | Sierra College | Rocklin, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 52.5 |
| #12 | Saddleback College | Mission Viejo, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 52.2 |
| #13 | MiraCosta College | Oceanside, CA | Public | $1,104 | 94% | 60.5 |
| #14 | Modesto Junior College | Modesto, CA | Public | $1,188 | 77% | 56.4 |
| #15 | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 49.6 |
| #16 | Foothill College | Los Altos Hills, CA | Public | $1,395 | — | 49.3 |
| #17 | San Diego Mesa College | San Diego, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 49.2 |
| #18 | Hartnell College | Salinas, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 49.2 |
| #19 | Moorpark College | Moorpark, CA | Public | $1,340 | — | 49.1 |
| #20 | Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster, CA | Public | $1,104 | 82% | 48.4 |
| #21 | Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa, CA | Public | $1,242 | — | 48.9 |
| #22 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 41.5 |
| #23 | Southwestern College | Chula Vista, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 48.8 |
| #24 | Bakersfield College | Bakersfield, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 48.7 |
| #25 | Yuba College | Marysville, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 48.6 |
| #26 | College of the Desert | Palm Desert, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 48.6 |
| #27 | College of San Mateo | San Mateo, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 48.4 |
| #28 | Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 48.3 |
| #29 | Fullerton College | Fullerton, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 48.3 |
| #30 | Norco College | Norco, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 48.3 |
| #31 | Mt San Antonio College | Walnut, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 48.2 |
| #32 | Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 48.1 |
| #33 | Palomar College | San Marcos, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 48.1 |
| #34 | Imperial Valley College | Imperial, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 47.9 |
| #35 | Cerritos College | Norwalk, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 47.9 |
| #36 | Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 47.4 |
| #37 | Merced College | Merced, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 47.4 |
| #38 | Ohlone College | Fremont, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 47.4 |
| #39 | Evergreen Valley College | San Jose, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 47.4 |
| #40 | Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 47.3 |
| #41 | Solano Community College | Fairfield, CA | Public | $1,104 | 74% | 45.2 |
| #42 | Gavilan College | Gilroy, CA | Public | $1,444 | — | 47.3 |
| #43 | Reedley College | Reedley, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 47.2 |
| #44 | Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 47.2 |
| #45 | Skyline College | San Bruno, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 47.2 |
| #46 | Las Positas College | Livermore, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 47.2 |
| #47 | Cuyamaca College | El Cajon, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 47.0 |
| #48 | Cypress College | Cypress, CA | Public | $1,104 | 68% | 51.4 |
| #49 | Santiago Canyon College | Orange, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 46.9 |
| #50 | Crafton Hills College | Yucaipa, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 46.8 |
| #51 | Laney College | Oakland, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 46.8 |
| #52 | Butte College | Oroville, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 46.7 |
| #53 | Long Beach City College | Long Beach, CA | Public | $1,472 | — | 46.6 |
| #54 | College of the Sequoias | Visalia, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 46.2 |
| #55 | San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 46.0 |
| #56 | Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen, CA | Public | $1,196 | — | 45.9 |
| #57 | Los Medanos College | Pittsburg, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 45.9 |
| #58 | West Los Angeles College | Culver City, CA | Public | $1,196 | — | 45.9 |
| #59 | Moreno Valley College | Moreno Valley, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 45.9 |
| #60 | Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles, CA | Public | $1,196 | — | 45.7 |
| #61 | San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 45.7 |
| #62 | San Jose City College | San Jose, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 45.7 |
| #63 | Canada College | Redwood City, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 45.6 |
| #64 | Rio Hondo College | Whittier, CA | Public | $1,306 | 65% | 49.3 |
| #65 | Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 38.6 |
| #66 | Monterey Peninsula College | Monterey, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 45.2 |
| #67 | Pasadena City College | Pasadena, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 45.2 |
| #68 | Berkeley City College | Berkeley, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 45.2 |
| #69 | American River College | Sacramento, CA | Public | — | — | 52.8 |
| #70 | Glendale Community College | Glendale, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 38.2 |
| #71 | Los Angeles Harbor College | Wilmington, CA | Public | $1,196 | — | 45.0 |
| #72 | Columbia College | Sonora, CA | Public | $1,465 | — | 45.0 |
| #73 | Los Angeles Mission College | Sylmar, CA | Public | $1,196 | — | 44.8 |
| #74 | City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Public | — | — | 52.2 |
| #75 | Contra Costa College | San Pablo, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 44.5 |
| #76 | Madera Community College | Madera, CA | Public | $1,288 | — | 37.9 |
| #77 | Los Angeles Southwest College | Los Angeles, CA | Public | $1,196 | — | 44.3 |
| #78 | Barstow Community College | Barstow, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 37.3 |
| #79 | Golden West College | Huntington Beach, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 43.9 |
| #80 | Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills, CA | Public | $1,196 | — | 43.9 |
| #81 | Cosumnes River College | Sacramento, CA | Public | — | — | 49.0 |
| #82 | Cerro Coso Community College | Ridgecrest, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 37.3 |
| #83 | Folsom Lake College | Folsom, CA | Public | — | — | 48.8 |
| #84 | Napa Valley College | Napa, CA | Public | $1,104 | — | 43.5 |
| #85 | Mendocino College | Ukiah, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 43.5 |
| #86 | College of the Siskiyous | Weed, CA | Public | $1,380 | — | 43.5 |
| #87 | Los Angeles Pacific College | Los Angeles, CA | For-Profit | $6,600 | — | 43.9 |
| #88 | Sacramento City College | Sacramento, CA | Public | — | — | 47.0 |
| #89 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA | For-Profit | $27,024 | — | 54.8 |
| #90 | Laurus College | San Luis Obispo, CA | For-Profit | — | — | 44.5 |
Best Bachelor's Mobile Development Programs in California
Program Landscape
California ranks among the nation's top destinations for mobile development education, with 62 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 30 public and 27 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are UC Berkeley, U of California-Irvine, UCLA, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from California mobile development programs earn a median salary of $123,905, 26% above the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Google, Apple, Meta.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $5,742 to $66,640 annually, with an average of $27,363/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 89%, with the highest reaching 100%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to California's leading technology employers. For students seeking mobile development degrees in California, these top-ranked mobile development schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
University of California-Irvine
University of California-San Diego
Show all 62 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA | Public | $11,834 | 93% | 80.4 |
| #7 | University of California-Davis | Davis, CA | Public | $11,834 | 91% | 80.7 |
| #8 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA | Public | $5,742 | 100% | 77.0 |
| #9 | University of California-Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | Public | $11,834 | 90% | 74.6 |
| #10 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA | Private | $61,731 | — | 74.2 |
| #11 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | Private | $60,816 | 88% | 73.3 |
| #12 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | Public | $5,742 | 83% | 72.1 |
| #13 | California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | Public | $5,742 | 73% | 71.7 |
| #14 | University of California-Riverside | Riverside, CA | Public | $11,834 | 83% | 71.2 |
| #15 | San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | Public | $5,742 | 100% | 69.5 |
| #16 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | Pomona, CA | Public | $5,742 | 87% | 66.7 |
| #17 | California State University-Northridge | Northridge, CA | Public | $5,742 | 95% | 66.0 |
| #18 | California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | Public | $5,742 | 92% | 63.9 |
| #19 | California State University-Monterey Bay | Seaside, CA | Public | $5,742 | 99% | 63.5 |
| #20 | California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Public | $5,742 | 99% | 63.7 |
| #21 | Chapman University | Orange, CA | Private | $62,400 | 93% | 62.8 |
| #22 | California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | Public | $5,742 | 65% | 61.3 |
| #23 | University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | Private | $55,690 | 97% | 61.6 |
| #24 | Pitzer College | Claremont, CA | Private | $62,392 | 96% | 61.9 |
| #25 | California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos, CA | Public | $5,742 | 96% | 60.3 |
| #26 | Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, CA | Private | $65,954 | — | 60.3 |
| #27 | Pomona College | Claremont, CA | Private | $61,906 | — | 58.2 |
| #28 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | Private | $58,587 | 91% | 56.5 |
| #29 | California State University-Fresno | Fresno, CA | Public | $5,742 | 97% | 56.6 |
| #30 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 53.7 |
| #31 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Private | $57,670 | — | 54.1 |
| #32 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA | For-Profit | $27,024 | — | 52.9 |
| #33 | Claremont McKenna College | Claremont, CA | Private | $63,800 | — | 52.6 |
| #34 | Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | Private | $42,600 | 94% | 51.1 |
| #35 | Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | Private | $49,821 | 96% | 50.5 |
| #36 | Occidental College | Los Angeles, CA | Private | $62,850 | — | 50.2 |
| #37 | California State University-East Bay | Hayward, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 50.2 |
| #38 | William Jessup University | Rocklin, CA | Private | $36,000 | 90% | 49.9 |
| #39 | National University | San Diego, CA | Private | $13,320 | — | 48.9 |
| #40 | Scripps College | Claremont, CA | Private | $63,216 | — | 47.1 |
| #41 | California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 45.6 |
| #42 | California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 46.6 |
| #43 | California State University-Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 45.3 |
| #44 | University of Silicon Valley | San Jose, CA | For-Profit | $21,480 | — | 45.4 |
| #45 | California State University-Chico | Chico, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 44.9 |
| #46 | Biola University | La Mirada, CA | Private | $46,704 | — | 44.4 |
| #47 | University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | Private | $54,506 | — | 44.6 |
| #48 | Ashford University | San Diego, CA | For-Profit | $12,240 | — | 44.3 |
| #49 | Laurus College | San Luis Obispo, CA | For-Profit | — | — | 44.4 |
| #50 | California State University-Channel Islands | Camarillo, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 44.1 |
| #51 | California College of the Arts | San Francisco, CA | Private | $57,096 | — | 43.4 |
| #52 | Concordia University-Irvine | Irvine, CA | Private | $40,510 | — | 43.6 |
| #53 | California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 42.8 |
| #54 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 42.7 |
| #55 | California Baptist University | Riverside, CA | Private | $37,570 | — | 41.5 |
| #56 | California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | Private | $49,880 | — | 39.9 |
| #57 | San Francisco Bay University | Fremont, CA | Private | $7,920 | — | 40.3 |
| #58 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | Arcata, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 39.3 |
| #59 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | Private | $42,900 | — | 39.6 |
| #60 | DeVry University-California | Ontario, CA | For-Profit | $14,392 | 25% | 38.7 |
| #61 | La Sierra University | Riverside, CA | Private | $34,920 | — | 36.4 |
| #62 | Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga, CA | Private | $55,634 | — | 36.5 |
Best Master's Mobile Development Programs in California
Program Landscape
California offers 37 master's degree programs in mobile development, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, U of Southern California, U of California-San Diego, U of California-Irvine, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in California earn a median salary of $145,770, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Google, Apple, Meta actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $16,860/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among California's mobile development schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
University of California-San Diego
University of California-Irvine
Show all 37 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA | Public | $5,742 | 100% | 76.0 |
| #7 | University of California-Davis | Davis, CA | Public | $11,834 | 91% | 75.8 |
| #8 | University of California-Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | Public | $11,834 | 90% | 75.2 |
| #9 | California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | Public | $5,742 | 73% | 66.7 |
| #10 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | Public | $5,742 | 83% | 73.1 |
| #11 | University of California-Riverside | Riverside, CA | Public | $11,834 | 83% | 72.8 |
| #12 | San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | Public | $5,742 | 100% | 61.4 |
| #13 | University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA | Public | $11,834 | 93% | 70.5 |
| #14 | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | Public | $11,834 | 96% | 70.0 |
| #15 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | Private | $60,816 | 88% | 67.5 |
| #16 | California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Public | $5,742 | 99% | 56.2 |
| #17 | California State University-Northridge | Northridge, CA | Public | $5,742 | 95% | 55.8 |
| #18 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | Pomona, CA | Public | $5,742 | 87% | 65.7 |
| #19 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA | For-Profit | $27,024 | — | 56.6 |
| #20 | California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | Public | $5,742 | 65% | 61.5 |
| #21 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Private | $57,670 | — | 48.6 |
| #22 | William Jessup University | Rocklin, CA | Private | $36,000 | 90% | 50.7 |
| #23 | California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos, CA | Public | $5,742 | 96% | 58.5 |
| #24 | California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | Public | $5,742 | 92% | 58.2 |
| #25 | California State University-Fresno | Fresno, CA | Public | $5,742 | 97% | 49.0 |
| #26 | California State University-East Bay | Hayward, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 46.6 |
| #27 | Naval Postgraduate School | Monterey, CA | Public | — | — | 48.0 |
| #28 | National University | San Diego, CA | Private | $13,320 | — | 46.4 |
| #29 | Northcentral University | San Diego, CA | Private | $11,064 | — | 52.1 |
| #30 | San Francisco Bay University | Fremont, CA | Private | $7,920 | — | 44.2 |
| #31 | Sofia University | Palo Alto, CA | For-Profit | $18,000 | — | 44.5 |
| #32 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 47.8 |
| #33 | California State University-Chico | Chico, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 38.8 |
| #34 | California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 38.5 |
| #35 | California State University-Channel Islands | Camarillo, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 37.4 |
| #36 | California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA | Public | $5,742 | — | 46.4 |
| #37 | University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | Private | $54,506 | — | 37.2 |
Best Doctoral Mobile Development Programs in California
Program Landscape
California is home to 13 doctoral programs in mobile development, preparing students for research positions, faculty appointments, and executive technical roles. Leading programs at U of Southern California, UC Berkeley, U of California-San Diego are recognized for cutting-edge research, strong faculty publications, and competitive funding packages.
Career Outcomes
Doctoral graduates command premium salaries, with California PhD holders earning a median of $182,213, reflecting the advanced expertise required for research and executive positions. The San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles region's research universities and corporate R&D centers provide extensive collaboration opportunities with industry leaders like Google, Apple, Meta.
Costs & Value
PhD programs typically require 4-6 years of full-time study, including coursework, qualifying examinations, and original dissertation research. Many programs offer full funding through teaching or research assistantships, covering tuition and providing stipends of $25,000–$40,000 annually.
Curriculum & Specializations
Research strengths across California programs include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, systems, and theoretical computer science. For aspiring researchers pursuing mobile development degrees in California, graduates go on to careers as university faculty, industry research scientists, or technical executives, contributing to advances in technology that impact millions of users worldwide.
University of Southern California
University of California-Los Angeles
Show all 13 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | Public | $11,834 | 96% | 63.7 |
| #7 | University of California-Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | Public | $11,834 | 90% | 61.7 |
| #8 | University of California-Davis | Davis, CA | Public | $11,834 | 91% | 57.7 |
| #9 | University of California-Riverside | Riverside, CA | Public | $11,834 | 83% | 52.3 |
| #10 | University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA | Public | $11,834 | 93% | 81.1 |
| #11 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | Private | $60,816 | 88% | 64.0 |
| #12 | Northcentral University | San Diego, CA | Private | $11,064 | — | 45.0 |
| #13 | Naval Postgraduate School | Monterey, CA | Public | — | — | 49.5 |
Mobile Development Degree Costs & Tuition in California
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $12,361/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $30,903/year |
| Community college tuition | $3,090/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $74,168 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $18,542 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Mobile Development Students in California
State Aid Programs
Cal Grants are California's flagship state financial aid programs, providing need-based assistance that doesn't need to be repaid. There are three types: Cal Grant A for students at four-year universities (requires minimum 3.0 GPA), Cal Grant B providing a living allowance plus tuition for low-income students, and Cal Grant C for vocational/technical programs including mobile development certificates (no GPA requirement). All Cal Grants require FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application submission by the March 2 priority deadline (California Student Aid Commission). The minimum financial need threshold for Cal Grant A is $17,088 for the 2026-2027 cohort.
Key Programs & Amounts
Federal aid programs complement state assistance: Pell Grants provide up to $7,395 (2024-25) for students with exceptional financial need. Federal student loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) cover remaining costs. Students ineligible for FAFSA (including DACA recipients) can apply through the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by the same deadlines. The Student Success Completion Grant provides additional support for full-time community college students receiving Cal Grant B or C who maintain 2.0+ GPAs. Apply via FAFSA (opens October 1) as early as possible to maximize aid eligibility.
Institutional Scholarships
Institutional and private scholarships represent significant untapped opportunities. UC and CSU campuses offer departmental scholarships for CS students, with specific awards for women in computing and underrepresented minorities. Professional organizations including ACM, IEEE, and the Anita Borg Institute fund computing scholarships. Tech companies including Apple, Google, and Meta sponsor scholarship programs at partner universities. Many California schools have priority scholarship deadlines in November-December, well before regular admission deadlines. The Terry Foundation provides competitive full-ride scholarships at select California institutions. For related financial planning, see our most affordable mobile development programs or best value rankings.
Mobile Development Degree ROI Calculator, California
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a mobile development degree in California. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Mobile Development Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a mobile development degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+1168%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$2,159,974
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$91,667
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
Detailed Breakdown
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Mobile Development Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in California metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| San Francisco | $160K |
| San Jose | $153K |
| Los Angeles | $146K |
| San Diego | $138K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
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Top Employers Hiring Mobile Development Graduates in California
Find mobile development jobs in California. These major employers across California metro areas are actively hiring mobile development degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Mobile Development Jobs in Silicon Valley
CASilicon Valley remains the global center of tech innovation. Headquarters for Google, Apple, Meta, and thousands of startups.
Nearby cities: San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Menlo Park, Redwood City
Mobile Development Jobs in San Francisco
CASan Francisco is a major fintech and enterprise software hub. Salesforce Tower anchors a dense tech ecosystem.
Nearby cities: Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, South San Francisco, San Mateo, Fremont
Mobile Development Jobs in Los Angeles
CALA has a diverse tech scene spanning entertainment tech, aerospace, and ecommerce. SpaceX and Snap are headquartered here.
Nearby cities: Santa Monica, Culver City, Burbank, Pasadena, Long Beach, Irvine, El Segundo
Mobile Development Jobs in San Diego
CASan Diego is a biotech and defense technology hub. Qualcomm is headquartered here alongside major military contractors.
Nearby cities: La Jolla, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, El Cajon
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 Mobile Development 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
Transfer Pathways for Mobile Development Degrees in California
State Transfer System
ASSIST (Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer) is California's official repository showing exactly how community college courses transfer to UC and CSU campuses (ASSIST.org). Unlike many states, California provides binding articulation agreements, courses listed on ASSIST are guaranteed to transfer and satisfy specific requirements at your target university. This eliminates the uncertainty and credit loss that plagues transfer students elsewhere. For mobile development, students should use ASSIST to map programming courses, data structures, and electives to their target CS program's requirements.
How Transfers Work
Cal-GETC (California General Education Transfer Curriculum) replaces both IGETC and CSU GE Breadth starting Fall 2025, creating a single unified lower-division general education pathway. Important note for CS/mobile development students: completing full Cal-GETC may not be optimal if your major has extensive lower-division requirements. Many CS programs recommend completing major preparation courses (calculus, programming, data structures) while meeting minimum UC/CSU admission requirements, rather than prioritizing general education breadth. Consult with counselors at both your community college and target university to optimize your path.
Transfer Planning Tips
UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) provides a guaranteed pathway to six UC campuses: Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. Students meeting TAG requirements (varies by campus and major) are 100% guaranteed admission. Requirements include completing 60 UC-transferable semester units with a 2.4+ GPA (higher for competitive majors). Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) guarantee CSU admission with junior standing. Students earning an AS-T in Computer Science or related fields receive priority consideration at their local CSU campus. This pathway allows students to save 40% or more on total degree costs while maintaining clear pathways to bachelor's completion.
Mobile Development Job Growth in California
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook
Mobile Development Job Market & Salary Data in California
Employment Outlook
California dominates the mobile development job market with salary potential.
Mobile app developers in California earn an average annual salary of $118,785, while senior iOS and Android engineers at top companies command $150,000-$300,000+ including equity (BLS OEWS May 2024, Levels.fyi). The state's software developer median of $170,910 reflects the premium companies pay for talent in the world's most competitive tech market. Entry-level mobile developers can expect starting salaries around $95,000-$120,000 in the Bay Area, with mid-career professionals earning $140,000-$180,000.
Salaries by Metro
Salaries vary significantly by metro area:
- San Francisco Bay Area: $165,000-$200,000+ median for mobile engineers, with top-tier companies paying significantly higher. Apple, Google, and Meta set compensation benchmarks. AI/ML mobile integration roles grew 35% since 2023.
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: The heart of Silicon Valley with the nation's second-highest software developer employment concentration.
- Los Angeles: $130,000-$160,000 median, anchored by entertainment tech (TikTok, Snap), gaming studios, and Silicon Beach startups. Snap Inc. employs approximately 5,300 people with headquarters in Santa Monica.
- San Diego: $120,000-$145,000 median, dominated by Qualcomm's mobile chipset division and growing biotech/health app sector. Qualcomm offers internships paying $17-$98/hour. (Built In SF, Glassdoor)
High-Growth Sectors
High-growth sectors driving mobile development hiring include: consumer applications (social media, entertainment, e-commerce), enterprise mobility (Salesforce, ServiceNow, Workday), health tech and digital therapeutics, fintech and mobile payments, gaming and AR/VR applications, and IoT/connected devices. The continued use of mobile devices for all aspects of life ensures sustained demand, employers report a critical shortage of IT skills, with 90% of organizations struggling to fill tech positions. For related career paths, explore our software engineering programs, AI degree programs, or UX design rankings.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Mobile Development Programs in California
Online Programs
27 available in California
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Mobile Development Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 18
- Median Tuition
- $8,700
- Total Programs
- 8
- Median Tuition
- $7,900
- Total Programs
- 34
- Median Tuition
- $9,600
- Total Programs
- 55
- Median Tuition
- $4,600
- Total Programs
- 77
- Median Tuition
- $6,800
- Total Programs
- 127
- Median Tuition
- $7,100
- Total Programs
- 68
- Median Tuition
- $44,500
- Total Programs
- 24
- Median Tuition
- $10,100
Mobile Development Degree Programs in California: FAQ
What are the best mobile development degree programs in California?
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Are there online mobile development degree programs in California?
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Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
California salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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.