Best Sociology Schools in California

California has 52 colleges offering Sociology programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 7,753 recent graduates. Graduates earn $31,916 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $31,633.

School choice matters significantly: University of California-Berkeley graduates earn $41,261 while Vanguard University of Southern California graduates earn $26,353 — a $14,908 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

Schools in CA

$31,916

CA Avg. Earnings

$31,633

National Avg.

593

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Sociology in California

Public Schools (31)

$32,417

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (20)

$30,943

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools in California produce comparable or higher early earnings for Sociology graduates, often at lower cost — making them strong value options.

Sociology Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$41,261

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,238

Graduates: 229

Acceptance: 11.7%

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$33,687

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,102

Graduates: 51

Acceptance: 10.0%

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$41,193

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $39,856

Graduates: 59

Acceptance: 29.8%

Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA · Private

$29,685

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,567

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: N/A

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$34,381

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,116

Graduates: 39

Acceptance: 40.3%

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private

$31,314

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 88.9%

National University

San Diego, CA · Private

$33,459

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,735

Graduates: 43

Acceptance: N/A

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$34,562

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,675

Graduates: 497

Acceptance: 8.7%

University of Massachusetts Global

Aliso Viejo, CA · Public

$38,289

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $39,940

Graduates: 35

Acceptance: N/A

#10

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,105

Graduates: 23

Acceptance: 80.9%

#11

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

$35,518

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,566

Graduates: 249

Acceptance: 96.8%

#12

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$36,147

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,633

Graduates: 99

Acceptance: 96.2%

#13

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$24,421

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,974

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 55.6%

#14

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$37,208

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,058

Graduates: 45

Acceptance: 50.8%

#15

University of La Verne

La Verne, CA · Private

$24,421

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,563

Graduates: 22

Acceptance: 48.5%

#16

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$30,719

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,687

Graduates: 495

Acceptance: 27.8%

#17

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$31,133

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,795

Graduates: 72

Acceptance: 68.7%

#18

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$34,105

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,674

Graduates: 203

Acceptance: 41.6%

#19

Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · Private

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private

$25,194

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,044

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 94.9%

#21

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$36,344

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,888

Graduates: 292

Acceptance: 93.6%

#22

California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public

$35,142

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,615

Graduates: 181

Acceptance: 93.1%

#23

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$35,123

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $36,544

Graduates: 173

Acceptance: 94.7%

#24

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$29,799

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,085

Graduates: 221

Acceptance: 25.6%

#25

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$28,423

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,056

Graduates: 268

Acceptance: 63.3%

#26

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$30,771

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,964

Graduates: 112

Acceptance: 24.5%

#27

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$29,141

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,765

Graduates: 282

Acceptance: 62.5%

#28

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

$32,043

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,045

Graduates: 276

Acceptance: 91.3%

#29

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$33,467

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,883

Graduates: 634

Acceptance: 93.2%

#30

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$30,119

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,886

Graduates: 38

Acceptance: 46.8%

#31

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

$26,585

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,900

Graduates: 35

Acceptance: 73.6%

#32

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$25,826

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,838

Graduates: 142

Acceptance: 34.4%

#33

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$29,685

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,004

Graduates: 166

Acceptance: 95.7%

#34

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$36,129

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,269

Graduates: 148

Acceptance: 73.7%

#35

California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA · Public

$30,363

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,051

Graduates: 45

Acceptance: 88.2%

#36

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$31,712

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,487

Graduates: 135

Acceptance: 93.7%

#37

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$30,510

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,491

Graduates: 422

Acceptance: 47.1%

#38

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$34,847

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,394

Graduates: 116

Acceptance: N/A

#39

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$33,459

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,516

Graduates: 417

Acceptance: 86.7%

#40

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public

$30,228

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,524

Graduates: 73

Acceptance: 39.2%

#41

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$30,240

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,102

Graduates: 479

Acceptance: 91.9%

#42

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$25,194

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,801

Graduates: 111

Acceptance: 96.4%

#43

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$29,891

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,801

Graduates: 319

Acceptance: 98.3%

#44

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$25,194

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $22,867

Graduates: 52

Acceptance: 98.8%

#45

Biola University

La Mirada, CA · Private

$25,387

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,935

Graduates: 58

Acceptance: 60.1%

#46

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public

$26,880

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,124

Graduates: 180

Acceptance: 97.5%

#47

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

$41,565

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,892

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 43.8%

#48

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$37,568

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,623

Graduates: 88

Acceptance: 80.2%

#49

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA · Private

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA · Private

$29,141

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,177

Graduates: 37

Acceptance: 79.5%

#51

Whittier College

Whittier, CA · Private

$28,309

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,730

Graduates: 16

Acceptance: 85.4%

#52

Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA · Private

$26,353

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 64.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Sociology in California?

University of California-Berkeley ranks #1 for Sociology in California with median graduate earnings of $41,261 within two years of graduation. There are 52 schools offering Sociology programs in the state.

How much do Sociology graduates earn in California?

Sociology graduates in California earn an average of $31,916 within two years of graduation. This is 1% above the national average of $31,633 for this major.

What is the hardest Sociology school to get into in California?

University of California-Los Angeles is the most selective Sociology program in California with an acceptance rate of 8.7%. The average acceptance rate across Sociology programs in the state is 66.6%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Sociology in California?

In California, private Sociology programs produce average earnings of $30,943 vs $32,417 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 31 public and 20 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Computer Science $72,889 Computer Engineering $72,447 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $71,074 Computer and Information Sciences, General $68,388

All colleges in California →

Sociology in Other States

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.