Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Best colleges for Social Sciences, Other in California

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Program-level earnings — not school prestige — rank these. Among the California programs in the federal field-of-study file, University of California-Berkeley leads: its Social Sciences, Other graduates earn a median $101,138 four years after finishing, against the field's $56,812 national median. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026.)

California Social Sciences, Other programs by graduate earnings
#CollegeGrad earnings, 4 yrsVs field median
1University of California-Berkeley$101,138+$44,326
2University of California-Davis$68,535+$11,723
3California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$57,360+$548

How big is the earnings gap between California Social Sciences programs?

$43,778 separates the top and bottom of this list — $101,138 at University of California-Berkeley against $57,360 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, four years after finishing. Same field, same state, same federal measure: where you study moves pay by that much.

Do California Social Sciences graduates earn more than the national median?

The state's strongest program pays $44,326 above the $56,812 national median for the field. Program-level medians come from federal tax records of graduates who received aid, so they track actual pay rather than advertised salaries.

Frequently asked questions

Which California college is best for Social Sciences, Other?
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley — its Social Sciences, Other bachelor's graduates earn a median $101,138 four years out, the highest of the 3 California programs in the federal file.
What do Social Sciences, Other graduates earn in California?
Across the ranked California programs, median earnings four years after completion run from $57,360 to $101,138. The field's national median is $56,812.
Is a Social Sciences, Other degree worth it?
On national medians, yes — Social Sciences, Other graduates earn $8,452/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. See the full field profile for payback math.