2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k) in California
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Computer Science is the 19th most popular major in the country with 53,722 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, computer science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $66,561 and had an average of $23,565 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 12,060 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $70,794 and $21,538 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 7,912 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 43 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in computer science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality computer science programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the computer science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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The compsci school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k) in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 307 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford is $-1,387 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.
The low student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of Technology. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Caltech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 72 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Caltech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $5,456 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California Institute of Technology.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full California Institute of Technology Computer Science Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pomona College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pomona is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Pomona College is $6,945 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 845 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $8,392 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #5 spot on the list. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 805 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Irvine also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend UC Irvine is $9,558 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Computer Science at University of California - Irvine
With a ranking of #6, Harvey Mudd College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 47 degrees to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harvey Mudd College, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Harvey Mudd College is $16,494 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
California State University - Los Angeles landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 119 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Los Angeles is $1,379 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #8, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 264 bachelors’s compsci degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $4,291 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 435 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSD also took the #7 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - San Diego is $9,280 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
San Diego State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 209 bachelors’s compsci degrees to qualified students.
SDSU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $8,870 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend San Diego State University.
The low student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUDH is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 57 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Dominguez Hills is $2,455 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Dominguez Hills
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 145 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Barbara is $10,316 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
California State University - Fresno landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Fresno is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 46 bachelors’s compsci degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $3,264 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full California State University - Fresno Computer Science Report
With a ranking of #14, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 220 bachelors’s compsci degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $6,364 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
With a ranking of #15, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 165 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UCR is $8,366 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Computer Science at University of California - Riverside
California State University - Northridge landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 160 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.
CSUN also took the #23 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $5,945 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Northridge.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
California State University - Stanislaus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Turlock, California, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Stan State is $3,410 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Stanislaus
California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. CSUB is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 61 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $3,423 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CSUB.
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 667 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend UC Santa Cruz is $10,872 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
California State University - Sacramento landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 239 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
Sac State also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $6,819 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Computer Science at California State University - Sacramento
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. CSUSB is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 94 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Bernardino is $5,077 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Computer Science at California State University - San Bernardino
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 238 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly Pomona also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $8,596 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 247 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.
USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $14,668 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Southern California.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Computer Science at University of Southern California
With a ranking of #24, California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Seaside, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s compsci degrees to 173 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,688 for California Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CSUMB.
The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Computer Science at California State University - Monterey Bay
California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. California State University - San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 161 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $9,517 for california bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - San Marcos.
The low student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Computer Science at California State University - San Marcos
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Negative Space.
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