2023 Best Teaching Schools in California
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for teaching students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Teaching Degree Search has created the Best Teaching Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 61 schools in California to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for teaching students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Teaching Schools in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Claremont Graduate University to be the best school for teaching students in California.
After graduating from Claremont Graduate University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,648 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Teaching Schools in California list.
On average, students take out $13,926 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Stanford, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $83,159 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of California - Santa Cruz is a great place for teaching students.
On average, students take out $18,900 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $285. During the early years of their career, UC Santa Cruz graduates make an average of $35,777 annually.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Santa Clara University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Teaching Schools in California list.
On average, students take out $19,104 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $657. During the early years of their career, SCU graduates make an average of $67,441 annually.
The excellent programs at Concordia University, Irvine helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best teaching schools in California.
Degree recipients from Concordia University, Irvine accumulate an average of $24,323 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $600 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Concordia University, Irvine graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,407 during the early year of their career.
Fresno Pacific University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Teaching Schools in California ranking.
Degree recipients from Fresno Pacific accumulate an average of $26,029 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $215.After graduating from Fresno Pacific, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,730 during the early years of their career.
Brandman University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best teaching programs.
On average, students take out $29,571 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Brandman, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,858 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #8, University of Redlands did quite well on this year’s best schools for teaching students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,902 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $410 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, University of Redlands graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,017 during the early year of their career.
Saint Mary’s College of California ranked #9 on this year’s Best Teaching Schools in California list.
Degree recipients from SMC accumulate an average of $27,136 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $659.After graduating from SMC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,025 during the early years of their career.
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for teaching students. It came in at #10 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,301 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $323 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UC Berkeley, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,587 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, California Lutheran University did quite well on this year’s best schools for teaching students working.
On average, students take out $21,957 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $364 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, CLU graduates make an average of $51,199 annually.
Loyola Marymount University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Teaching Schools in California ranking.
Degree recipients from Loyola Marymount accumulate an average of $20,811 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $821. Once they receive their degree, Loyola Marymount graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,301 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #13, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on this year’s best schools for teaching students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,924 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $172, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Sac State graduates make an average of $45,098 annually.
Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for teaching students. It came in at #14 on the list.
On average, students take out $22,219 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $685, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from PLNU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,716 during the early years of their career.
University of Southern California landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best teaching programs.
On average, students take out $15,661 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $489. Once they receive their degree, USC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $65,044 during the early year of their career.
University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for teaching students. It came in at #16 on the list.
On average, students take out $16,277 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $278 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UCLA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,838 during the early year of their career.
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best teaching programs.
On average, students take out $18,067 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $377. During the early years of their career, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduates make an average of $54,753 annually.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report
With a ranking of #18, San Jose State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for teaching students working.
Once they receive their degree, San Jose State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,886 during the early year of their career.
Notre Dame de Namur University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Teaching Schools in California ranking.
On average, students take out $28,287 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $542. Once they receive their degree, NDNU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,729 during the early year of their career.
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for teaching students. It came in at #20 on the list.
Degree recipients from CSUSB accumulate an average of $18,358 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $137 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from CSUSB, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,226 during the early years of their career.
California State University - Long Beach did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for teaching students. It came in at #21 on the list.
On average, students take out $17,702 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from CSULB, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,445 during the early years of their career.
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for teaching students. It came in at #22 on the list.
Degree recipients from Cal State Fullerton accumulate an average of $17,931 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $191 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Cal State Fullerton, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,875 during the early years of their career.
Dominican University of California did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for teaching students. It came in at #23 on the list.
Degree recipients from DUofC accumulate an average of $27,447 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $734. Once they receive their degree, DUofC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,232 during the early year of their career.
University of the Pacific came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Teaching Schools in California ranking.
Degree recipients from Pacific accumulate an average of $23,827 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $656. Once they receive their degree, Pacific graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $58,860 during the early year of their career.
National University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Teaching Schools in California ranking.
On average, students take out $31,362 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $198 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, National University graduates make an average of $58,580 annually.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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