Rankings / Online
Best Online Computer Science Programs in California
- 50
- Schools
- $45,421
- Avg. Earnings
- 39%
- Avg. Graduation
- $8,460
- Avg. Net Price
- $10,822
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 50 schools run from $32,172 to $67,548, a 2.1× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Skyline College delivers the most for the money: roughly $55,702 in median earnings against $1,738 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, Skyline College ($1,738 net price), still posts $55,702 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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De Anza College graduates 68% of its students, versus a 39% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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De Anza College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.10× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Coastline Community College ($44,483 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, National University ($67,548), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Skyline College costs $1,738 a year and Woodbury University costs $33,692. Yet their graduates earn $55,702 and $65,668, nowhere near the $31,954 price gap.
- On value, Skyline College beats National University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Skyline College and De Anza College. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Technology is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $44K within a decade, and software developer roles are projected to grow 25%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-20
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Coastline Community College #1 overall | $44,483 ▼ -2% vs avg | $16,341 | 30% | 100 |
| 2 National University #2 overall | $67,548 ▲ +49% vs avg | $22,878 | 42% | 100 |
| 3 Los Angeles Southwest College #3 overall | $32,172 ▼ -29% vs avg | $5,964 | 34% | 100 |
| $42,563 ▼ -6% vs avg | $8,496 | 34% | 100 | |
| $65,668 ▲ +45% vs avg | $33,692 | 58% | 100 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Online Computer Science Programs in California
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $45,421 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 39% and an average net price of $8,460.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Skyline College — Net Price: $1,738 | Graduation Rate: 43%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: De Anza College — 68% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: National University — Median alumni earnings: $67,548
Research Note
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Technology Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the technology workforce?
$43,529
Median earnings (10yr)
36%
Median graduation rate
$6,616
Median net price
2.5%
Avg. mobility rate
Computing, data, and information-systems programs train for one of the highest-paying and fastest-moving corners of the labor market. Starting salaries are strong, and hiring increasingly rewards demonstrable skill over pedigree. The field is cyclical, though, and specific tools age quickly. What endures is fundamentals and the habit of learning new ones.
Across the 50 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $43,529 ten years after they first enrolled. The median graduation rate is 36%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $6,616 a year, with about $9,619 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 22% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 2.5%.
What we’re seeing: employers reward programs with strong industry ties, co-ops, and project portfolios over brand alone. Graduates here post median earnings of $43,529 ten years after enrollment. That premium holds as long as graduates keep their skills current against a fast-shifting stack.
The podium
Build your ranking
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Coastline Community College lands at #1 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (72/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $44,483 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,341 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
National University lands at #2 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $67,548 a decade after enrolling, 49% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,878 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Los Angeles Southwest College lands at #3 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by social mobility (42/100). Graduates earn a median $32,172 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,964 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
College of Alameda lands at #4 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $42,563 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,496 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Woodbury University lands at #5 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (32/100). Graduates earn a median $65,668 a decade after enrolling, 45% above this list's average, and net price runs $33,692 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Saddleback College lands at #6 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (57/100). Graduates earn a median $50,874 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $4,152 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Los Angeles Harbor College lands at #7 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by social mobility (38/100). Graduates earn a median $41,133 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,250 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Los Angeles Mission College lands at #8 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by academic quality (30/100). Graduates earn a median $39,834 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,380 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Sacramento City College lands at #9 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (35/100). Graduates earn a median $42,214 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,614 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
MiraCosta College lands at #10 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (58/100). Graduates earn a median $43,845 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,339 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Los Angeles City College lands at #11 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by social mobility (38/100). Graduates earn a median $36,190 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,261 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Folsom Lake College lands at #12 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (45/100). Graduates earn a median $42,568 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,975 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Moorpark College lands at #13 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (95/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $49,044 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $-2,296 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Cosumnes River College lands at #14 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by social mobility (41/100). Graduates earn a median $42,446 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,981 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
De Anza College lands at #15 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $56,596 a decade after enrolling, 25% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,642 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Chaffey College lands at #16 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $42,975 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,672 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
San Joaquin Delta College lands at #17 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (94/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $43,212 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,407 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Lemoore College lands at #18 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $40,292 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,832 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Concordia University-Irvine lands at #19 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (77/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $65,083 a decade after enrolling, 43% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,115 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Clovis Community College lands at #20 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Net price runs $4,590 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Los Angeles Pierce College lands at #21 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by social mobility (42/100). Graduates earn a median $44,521 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,270 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Norco College lands at #22 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by social mobility (47/100). Graduates earn a median $51,206 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $5,169 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Cuyamaca College lands at #23 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by social mobility (46/100). Graduates earn a median $32,435 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,618 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Berkeley City College lands at #24 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by social mobility (17/100). Graduates earn a median $41,217 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,096 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
College of the Siskiyous lands at #25 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $39,098 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,120 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Oxnard College lands at #26 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (100/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (31/100). Graduates earn a median $41,393 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $-1,128 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Santiago Canyon College lands at #27 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (96/100) and pulled down by social mobility (48/100). Graduates earn a median $44,956 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,129 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Yuba College lands at #28 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (94/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $39,552 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,576 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Irvine Valley College lands at #29 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (95/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $49,156 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $2,090 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Madera Community College lands at #30 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Net price runs $4,179 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Contra Costa College lands at #31 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $40,850 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,490 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Evergreen Valley College lands at #32 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by social mobility (52/100). Graduates earn a median $53,077 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,414 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Sierra College lands at #33 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $45,294 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $7,245 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
Cerro Coso Community College lands at #34 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (64/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (26/100). Graduates earn a median $34,963 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,306 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
American River College lands at #35 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (39/100). Graduates earn a median $40,162 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,999 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #36
Santa Monica College lands at #36 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (93/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $42,193 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,779 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #37
Diablo Valley College lands at #37 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (51/100). Graduates earn a median $51,378 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,312 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #38
Napa Valley College lands at #38 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $49,517 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,644 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #39
San Diego City College lands at #39 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (37/100). Graduates earn a median $38,503 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,935 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
San Diego Mesa College lands at #40 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by social mobility (42/100). Graduates earn a median $45,120 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,814 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #41
San Diego Miramar College lands at #41 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (94/100) and pulled down by social mobility (49/100). Graduates earn a median $48,224 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $3,337 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #42
College of the Canyons lands at #42 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $49,022 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $3,702 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #43
Shasta College lands at #43 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by social mobility (47/100). Graduates earn a median $39,269 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,878 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #44
Moreno Valley College lands at #44 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $52,133 a decade after enrolling, 15% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,483 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
Skyline College lands at #45 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (98/100) and pulled down by social mobility (52/100). Graduates earn a median $55,702 a decade after enrolling, 23% above this list's average, and net price runs $1,738 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
San Bernardino Valley College lands at #46 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (64/100) and pulled down by social mobility (34/100). Graduates earn a median $39,676 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,943 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #47
Grossmont College lands at #47 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by social mobility (48/100). Graduates earn a median $40,309 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,311 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #48
Mission College lands at #48 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $50,936 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $5,080 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #49
Santa Barbara City College lands at #49 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $47,647 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,315 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #50
Pasadena City College lands at #50 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $43,937 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,864 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Software Developers and related roles — a field with $132,270 median pay and 25% projected growth.
See the Software Developer career guide →This ranking scores 50 institutions on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt burdens, and social mobility data from Opportunity Insights. Every data point comes from federal sources. No surveys, no opinions.
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in our algorithm. We use Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card — built on 30 million anonymized tax records — to measure whether a college changes a family's economic trajectory across generations. Schools that take low-income students and launch them into higher earnings rank higher than schools that admit wealthy students and take credit for their success.
The transparency penalty matters here. Schools that don't report their data get scored lower than schools that do. If an institution won't show you its numbers, we think you should know that before you write them a tuition check.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 14 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 2.5%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Woodbury University leads the group at 6.4%, with Pasadena City College (4.8%) and Santa Monica College (4.4%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 16.3% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. National University enrolls the most, at 30.4%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 15.9% across the list, peaking at 34.1% at Woodbury University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.31, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Saddleback College is highest at 1.72.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Online Computer Science Programs in California: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Online Computer Science Programs in California ranking? +
Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, CA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Online Computer Science Programs in California ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $44,483 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 30% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
National University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $67,548 ten years after enrollment, well above the $45,421 average across the 48 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Skyline College leads: graduates earn a median $55,702 against net price of about $1,738 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
De Anza College has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 68%, compared with a 39% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $8,884 a year across the 48 ranked schools with cost data. Skyline College is among the most affordable at roughly $1,738. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Online Computer Science Programs in California ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 50 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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