by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which grad school to attend. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges in California ranking.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
Our analysis looked at 53 grad schools in California to determine which ones have the best doctorate degree programs. Our ranking for the best grad schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a graduateschool is to look at the average salary of doctorate graduates during the early years of their career. A doctorate degree holder from a school in California makes an average starting salary of $75,525, but the students who attended schools in the top 22 of our list make an average of $83,738.
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their doctorate degree. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty doctorate recipients will have paying back their loans.
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking. Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
Find out more about our graduate school ranking methodology
Not quite ready to work on your doctorate? Check out our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best grad school for doctorate degrees in California in this year’s ranking. Located in Stanford, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,105 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Stanford make an average of $98,295 a year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #2 in California on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,914 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $87,196 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #3 in California on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 1,187 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from UC Berkeley make an average of $88,876 per year during the early years of their career.
A rank of #4 on our Best Doctorate Degrees in California list means California Institute of Technology is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Pasadena, California, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 184 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from Caltech make an average of $59,996 per year during the early years of their career.
Out of the 53 doctorate degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Fielding Graduate University landed the #5 spot on the list. Fielding is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 123 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Fielding make an average of $71,013 a year.
The Master’s University and Seminary did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Santa Clarita, California, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 27 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
University of California - Los Angeles landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, the large public school awarded 1,348 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from UCLA make an average of $73,710 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #8, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California list. This large public school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 287 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from UCSB make an average of $104,226 a year.
Read full report on University of California - Santa Barbara
Claremont Graduate University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking. Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 130 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Claremont Graduate University go into careers with an average salary of $72,333 during the early years of their career.
University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking, coming in at #10. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 718 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from UCSD make an average of $61,698 a year.
Alliant International University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking. Alliant International University is a small private for-profit school located in San Diego, California that handed out 267 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Alliant go into careers with an average salary of $71,918 during the early years of their career.
Biola University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking, coming in at #12. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in La Mirada, California, and it awarded 66 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from Biola make an average of $74,906 per year during the early years of their career.
University of California - Davis ranked #13 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California list. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 913 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $67,399 during the early years of their career.
University of California - Irvine ranked #14 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 710 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from UC Irvine make an average of $55,621 a year.
Santa Clara University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking. SCU is located in Santa Clara, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 240 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $74,729 during the early years of their career.
Pepperdine University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California list. Pepperdine is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Malibu, California. It awarded 253 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Pepperdine go into careers with an average salary of $75,813 during the early years of their career.
Azusa Pacific University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking. Azusa, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 137 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Azusa Pacific go into careers with an average salary of $80,395 during the early years of their career.
Northcentral University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 780 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from Northcentral University make an average of $73,905 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #19, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California list. USFCA is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 202 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from USFCA make an average of $105,949 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #20, University of the Pacific did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Stockton, California, and it awarded 654 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $92,529 during the early years of their career.
California State University - Fullerton came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 67 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Cal State Fullerton make an average of $129,790 a year.
With a ranking of #22, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California list. This large public school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 140 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from SDSU make an average of $97,174 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #23, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 160 students in 2020-2021.
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California ranking, coming in at #24. CSUSB is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About California State University - San Bernardino
Brandman University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in California list. Irvine, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 167 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Brandman make an average of $124,768 a year.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.