Ranking
Best Science, Technology and Society Colleges in California 2026
Stanford University leads this ROI ranking with a A+ value grade and a 22.47 ROI score. EduGradify ranks 8 colleges here by earnings against net price.
8 California colleges offering Science, Technology and Society, ranked by EduGradify value grade.
- Schools ranked
- 8
- Cheapest net price
- $11,531
- Top earnings 10y
- $138,687
- Public / Private
- 2 / 6
Stanford University
A+- ROI score
- 22.47
- Net price
- $13,807
- Earnings 10y
- $124,080
- Acceptance
- 3.6%
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
A- ROI score
- 15.59
- Net price
- $11,531
- Earnings 10y
- $71,902
- Acceptance
- 75.2%
University of California-Davis
A- ROI score
- 13.71
- Net price
- $14,741
- Earnings 10y
- $80,838
- Acceptance
- 41.8%
Pomona College
B- ROI score
- 10.08
- Net price
- $19,285
- Earnings 10y
- $77,779
- Acceptance
- 7.1%
Harvey Mudd College
B- ROI score
- 9.65
- Net price
- $35,924
- Earnings 10y
- $138,687
- Acceptance
- 12.7%
University of Southern California
C- ROI score
- 7.06
- Net price
- $32,740
- Earnings 10y
- $92,498
- Acceptance
- 9.8%
Scripps College
D- ROI score
- 5.34
- Net price
- $36,294
- Earnings 10y
- $77,539
- Acceptance
- 38.3%
Pitzer College
D- ROI score
- 5.08
- Net price
- $34,191
- Earnings 10y
- $69,512
- Acceptance
- 25.2%
How we picked this list
This list starts with California schools with positive Science, Technology and Society program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 11.12 (2 public, 6 private).
Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.
FAQ
Who leads this ranking?
Stanford University in Stanford, CA tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.
How does EduGradify pick this list?
We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.
How many California colleges are in this list?
8 California colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.
What does net price mean here?
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.
Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?
Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.