Every California university with published federal figures, ordered by how fast the debt clears. The typical graded US university clears its debt in 1.3 years on median earnings of $57,146 against $22,500 of debt.
| # | University | Grade | You borrow | Monthly | You earn | Debt clears in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Golden Gate University California | B | $29,875 | $340 | $87,434 | 0.6 yrs |
| 32 | University of California, Riverside California | B | $17,500 | $199 | $67,699 | 0.6 yrs |
| 33 | Occidental College California | B | $23,000 | $262 | $75,951 | 0.6 yrs |
| 34 | Sonoma State University California | B | $16,705 | $190 | $65,986 | 0.6 yrs |
| 35 | California State University, Monterey Bay California | B | $12,750 | $145 | $59,247 | 0.7 yrs |
| 36 | University of California, Merced California | B | $16,144 | $184 | $64,368 | 0.7 yrs |
| 37 | California State University Channel Islands California | B | $15,000 | $171 | $62,152 | 0.7 yrs |
| 38 | California State University, Los Angeles California | B | $13,000 | $148 | $59,211 | 0.7 yrs |
| 39 | Chapman University California | B | $20,500 | $233 | $70,070 | 0.7 yrs |
| 40 | California State University, Chico California | B | $16,552 | $188 | $64,172 | 0.7 yrs |
| 41 | California State University, Fresno California | B | $14,505 | $165 | $61,244 | 0.7 yrs |
| 42 | Irvine Valley College California | B | $6,500 | $74 | $49,156 | 0.7 yrs |
| 43 | California State University, Northridge California | B | $13,872 | $158 | $59,115 | 0.7 yrs |
| 44 | California State University, San Bernardino California | B | $14,715 | $167 | $59,977 | 0.7 yrs |
| 45 | California Lutheran University California | B | $21,669 | $246 | $68,712 | 0.7 yrs |
| 46 | California State University, San Marcos California | B | $17,350 | $197 | $62,908 | 0.7 yrs |
| 47 | California State University, Dominguez Hills California | B | $13,807 | $157 | $57,162 | 0.8 yrs |
| 48 | University of Redlands California | B | $26,000 | $296 | $72,690 | 0.8 yrs |
| 49 | Azusa Pacific University California | B | $23,219 | $264 | $66,677 | 0.9 yrs |
| 50 | California State University, Bakersfield California | B | $16,600 | $189 | $59,009 | 0.9 yrs |
| 51 | National University California | B | $25,000 | $284 | $67,548 | 0.9 yrs |
| 52 | Pacific Union College California | B | $27,500 | $313 | $70,484 | 0.9 yrs |
| 53 | University of La Verne California | B | $23,500 | $267 | $65,464 | 0.9 yrs |
| 54 | Westmont College California | B | $23,250 | $264 | $64,778 | 0.9 yrs |
| 55 | SOKA University of America California | C | $15,650 | $178 | $55,017 | 1 yrs |
| 56 | Woodbury University California | C | $26,960 | $307 | $65,668 | 1 yrs |
| 57 | California Baptist University California | C | $26,063 | $296 | $61,504 | 1.2 yrs |
| 58 | Fresno Pacific University California | C | $23,146 | $263 | $58,896 | 1.2 yrs |
| 59 | La Sierra University California | C | $27,000 | $307 | $61,824 | 1.2 yrs |
| 60 | Whittier College California | C | $24,937 | $284 | $59,492 | 1.3 yrs |
The debt column is shaped far more by residency and institutional aid than by anything else. If you are applying from another state or another country, the figures here understate what you would borrow — check the university's own net price for your situation.
Two universities in this state with identical graduate salaries can be two grades apart, because one leaves students owing twice as much. The payback column is the one that combines both.
Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures cover students who received federal financial aid and blend every subject at each institution. Information only, not financial advice.