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Schools with the Best Average Starting Salaries in California – Study
Most college students are on a tight budget for four years, making minimum wage at the pizza place on campus – but when graduation comes, who’s earning the most dough? A recent study by SmartAsset measures exactly that – finding the schools where graduates earn the highest average starting salaries.
For a look at the leaders in California, check the table below:
| Rank | School | City | Avg. Scholarships and Grants | Avg. Starting Salary | College Tuition* | Student Living Costs | Student Retention Rate | Starting Salary Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, CA | $34,661 | $88,800 | $54,636 | $19,792 | 97% | 100.00 |
| 2 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | $39,500 | $84,100 | $49,908 | $18,993 | 98% | 91.17 |
| 3 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA | $47,106 | $79,000 | $49,617 | $19,492 | 99% | 81.58 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | $18,993 | $70,700 | $14,170 | $22,819 | 97% | 65.98 |
| 5 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | $26,392 | $69,900 | $49,858 | $19,581 | 95% | 64.47 |
| 6 | Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA | $8,682 | $66,300 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 57.71 |
| 7 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA | $6,755 | $65,600 | $9,432 | $17,721 | 94% | 56.39 |
| 8 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | $37,647 | $64,500 | $54,259 | $17,950 | 97% | 54.32 |
| 9 | University of California-San Diego | La Jolla, CA | $18,306 | $63,400 | $14,018 | $18,145 | 94% | 52.26 |
| 10 | Art Center College of Design | Pasadena, CA | $16,566 | $63,200 | $42,008 | n/a | 83% | 51.88 |
These rankings are based on one of the key factors in SmartAsset’s overarching study on America’s Best Value Colleges. Additional information on the study and methodology can be found here: https://smartasset.com/
