At a glance · California

  • 89 colleges in California offer a bachelor's psychology program; every one of them awarded the degree in 2022-23 (federal IPEDS completions).
  • Largest programs by graduates in 2022-23: University of California-Irvine (1,067), University of California-Los Angeles (1,063), California State University-Fullerton (983).
  • Hardest reported gate into the program (only the UC and the CSU publish one): University of California-Berkeley — Psychology, Fall 2025: 6,361 applied, 343 admitted (5%).
  • Highest reported admit rate into the program: University of California-Santa Cruz — 99% (536 applied, 529 admitted, Fall 2025).
  • Highest median earnings four years after the degree: Santa Clara University, $75,742.
  • Lowest average net price with aid: San Diego Christian College, $992 per year.

A college with no first-year psychology row is not closed to psychology; most often it does not report admissions by major at all, so the campus admit rate is the number to plan around. Where a campus does report psychology on its own, the spread between campuses is wide: Cal Poly SLO reports 13.0% and Cal State LA reports 92.4% for the same degree. Admits are not enrollees. At most UC programs students are admitted to the campus, not the major. This page as JSON → · All 1465 colleges nationwide →

Hardest reported gate

5%
University of California-Berkeley
Psychology, Fall 2025: 6,361 applied, 343 admitted

Highest reported admit rate

99%
University of California-Santa Cruz
Psychology, Fall 2025: 536 applied, 529 admitted

Highest earnings, 4 yrs out

$75,742
Santa Clara University
median, graduates of this program

Lowest net price with aid

$992
San Diego Christian College
average for aid recipients, per year

Every college, one row each

Colleges with a reported gate into the program come first, hardest first; the rest are sorted by earnings, then by graduates. Degree awarded is the program the college conferred bachelor's degrees in during 2022-23, with the number of graduates (federal IPEDS completions). Program admit rate is the college system's own number for this major (UC Information Center, CSU Chancellor's Office). Net price is the average paid by aid recipients; full price is the cost of attendance. Earnings are federal College Scorecard medians four years after the degree.

College Gate into the program Degree awarded
· graduates 2022-23
Program
admit rate
Campus
admit rate
Net price
with aid
Full
price
Earnings
4 yrs out
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 6,361 applied, 343 admitted · admit GPA 4.15–4.29
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
322 graduates
5% 10% $13,481 $45,619 $64,904
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 3,732 applied, 486 admitted
impacted
Psychology, General
131 graduates
13.0% 30% $16,665 $32,265 $60,466
University of California-San Diego
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 4,513 applied, 836 admitted · admit GPA 4.09–4.28
Business Psychology: 18% · Psychology With A Specialization In Clinical Psychology: 23%
Psychology, General +6
725 graduates
19% 27% $12,470 $38,701 $63,130
University of California-Irvine
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 6,826 applied, 1,428 admitted · admit GPA 4.09–4.28
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other +3
1,067 graduates
21% 30% $14,251 $38,632 $56,380
University of California-Davis
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 5,687 applied, 1,408 admitted · admit GPA 4.06–4.26
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
866 graduates
25% 46% $14,741 $41,238 $60,257
San Diego State University
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 7,221 applied, 2,114 admitted
impacted
Psychology, General
630 graduates
29.3% 34% $15,364 $27,780 $51,021
California State University-Long Beach
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 5,975 applied, 2,563 admitted
impacted
Psychology, General
595 graduates
42.9% 47% $10,440 $22,679 $48,926
University of California-Santa Barbara
CA · Public · Test-blind
Biopsychology
Fall 2025: 2,018 applied, 924 admitted · admit GPA 4.15–4.29
Experimental Psychology +1
643 graduates
46% 44% $16,109 $41,573 $66,171
San Jose State University
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 2,099 applied, 1,718 admitted
impacted
Psychology, General
485 graduates
81.8% 80% $13,760 $26,593 —
California State University-Bakersfield
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 882 applied, 751 admitted
Psychology, General
272 graduates
85.1% 88% $5,652 $19,522 $49,207
California State University-East Bay
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 735 applied, 643 admitted
Industrial/Organizational Psychology: 96.7%
Psychology, General
375 graduates
87.5% 97% $9,320 $22,850 $54,436
University of California-Riverside
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 5,682 applied, 5,006 admitted · admit GPA 3.57–4.09
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
580 graduates
88% 88% $14,304 $38,942 $49,947
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 2,571 applied, 2,266 admitted
impacted
Psychology, General
360 graduates
88.1% 74% $11,531 $23,955 $49,747
California State University-Fullerton
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 4,673 applied, 4,131 admitted
impacted
Psychology, General
983 graduates
88.4% 87% $6,555 $18,269 $51,661
San Francisco State University
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 2,068 applied, 1,843 admitted
Psychology, General
470 graduates
89.1% 96% $12,278 $26,488 $55,902
California State University-Chico
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 1,285 applied, 1,169 admitted
Psychology, General
304 graduates
91.0% 94% $14,480 $26,283 $52,621
California State University-Channel Islands
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 841 applied, 770 admitted
Psychology, General
356 graduates
91.6% 93% $9,849 $23,561 $48,789
California State University-Northridge
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 2,510 applied, 2,313 admitted
Psychology, General
978 graduates
92.2% 93% $7,021 $20,485 $49,792
California State University-Los Angeles
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 2,758 applied, 2,549 admitted
Psychology, General
412 graduates
92.4% 92% $3,967 $18,403 $46,060
Sonoma State University
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 736 applied, 685 admitted
Psychology, General
282 graduates
93.1% 95% $12,885 $24,648 $57,335
California State University-Stanislaus
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 456 applied, 427 admitted
Developmental Psychology: 95.1%
Psychology, General
454 graduates
93.6% 98% $6,067 $19,739 $50,348
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 869 applied, 813 admitted
Psychology, General
151 graduates
93.6% 99% $13,171 $25,170 $45,889
California State University-Sacramento
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 1,741 applied, 1,636 admitted
Psychology, General
633 graduates
94.0% 94% $9,338 $22,945 $53,237
University of California-Merced
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 3,400 applied, 3,210 admitted · admit GPA 3.44–4.08
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
338 graduates
94% 95% $11,983 $39,665 $53,143
California State University-San Marcos
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 1,113 applied, 1,050 admitted
Psychology, General
313 graduates
94.3% 96% $10,229 $21,649 $55,196
California State University-Dominguez Hills
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 1,650 applied, 1,574 admitted
Psychology, General
530 graduates
95.4% 91% $8,615 $23,191 $52,965
California State University-San Bernardino
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 543 applied, 522 admitted
Physiological Psychology: 97.6% · Industrial/Organizational Psychology: 92.9%
Psychology, General
564 graduates
96.1% 98% $4,564 $17,427 $63,062
California State University-Monterey Bay
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 1,898 applied, 1,832 admitted
Psychology, General
290 graduates
96.5% 95% $13,663 $26,987 $54,074
California State University-Fresno
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 1,082 applied, 1,052 admitted
Forensic Psychology: 97.3%
Psychology, General +1
632 graduates
97.2% 96% $7,000 $20,095 $51,526
University of California-Santa Cruz
CA · Public · Test-blind
Psychology
Fall 2025: 536 applied, 529 admitted · admit GPA 3.73–4.08
Psychology, General
430 graduates
99% 82% $17,890 $41,179 $59,948
Santa Clara University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
100 graduates
— 44% $50,062 $82,026 $75,742
University of San Diego
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
109 graduates
— 47% $30,365 $78,720 $74,178
University of Southern California
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
173 graduates
— 10% $32,740 $90,300 $70,461
Saint Mary's College of California
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General +3
53 graduates
— 89% $30,378 $77,659 $70,123
Azusa Pacific University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
120 graduates
— 80% $22,212 $56,313 $66,411
University of San Francisco
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
118 graduates
— 51% $41,431 $80,141 $65,071
Chapman University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
155 graduates
— 56% $46,555 $83,146 $63,617
Pepperdine University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General +1
90 graduates
— 50% $58,098 $93,512 $61,353
Dominican University of California
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
21 graduates
— 96% $35,333 $71,751 $61,339
University of California-Los Angeles
CA · Public · Test-blind
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General +1
1,063 graduates
— 11% $12,548 $38,614 $61,134
California Baptist University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General +1
162 graduates
— 74% $26,285 $54,038 $61,103
Loyola Marymount University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
149 graduates
— 40% $48,381 $83,943 $60,958
California Lutheran University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
93 graduates
— 89% $30,109 $68,426 $59,153
Whittier College
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
35 graduates
— 85% $25,757 $63,664 $58,397
University of La Verne
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
93 graduates
— 48% $20,161 $62,278 $56,925
Occidental College
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
51 graduates
— 40% $38,263 $84,800 $56,800
University of Redlands
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
57 graduates
— 81% $30,031 $76,630 $55,739
Menlo College
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
29 graduates
— 68% $31,100 $72,020 $52,942
Mount Saint Mary's University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General +3
63 graduates
— 69% $21,413 $66,726 $52,940
Fresno Pacific University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
33 graduates
— 58% $13,630 $44,249 $52,695
University of the Pacific
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
51 graduates
— 95% $25,447 $71,515 $52,612
Concordia University-Irvine
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General +1
34 graduates
— 60% $28,115 $58,682 $49,593
Biola University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General +1
91 graduates
— 60% $31,495 $62,757 $49,450
La Sierra University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
12 graduates
— 93% $45,566 $51,459 $49,265
Vanguard University of Southern California
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
74 graduates
— 65% $21,241 $52,665 $47,582
Point Loma Nazarene University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
62 graduates
— 82% $38,729 $60,488 $46,437
Westmont College
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
25 graduates
— 80% $29,053 $71,150 $45,455
Ashford University
CA · Private for-profit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
443 graduates
— — $31,266 — —
National University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General +1
188 graduates
— — $22,878 — —
University of Massachusetts Global
CA · Public
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
124 graduates
— — $32,654 — —
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit · Required
Not reported by the college system
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
53 graduates
— 4% $13,807 $87,833 —
Simpson University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
48 graduates
— — $27,817 — —
Touro University Worldwide
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
47 graduates
— — $19,058 — —
William Jessup University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
46 graduates
— — $28,062 — —
Los Angeles Pacific University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Applied Psychology
44 graduates
— — $22,677 — —
The Chicago School at Los Angeles
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
44 graduates
— — — — —
California Institute of Integral Studies
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
34 graduates
— — — — —
Scripps College
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
32 graduates
— 34% $36,294 $87,564 —
Hope International University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
23 graduates
— — $29,310 — —
Palo Alto University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General +1
22 graduates
— — — — —
Claremont McKenna College
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Experimental Psychology
20 graduates
— 11% $28,849 $86,500 —
Pomona College
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
19 graduates
— 7% $19,285 $85,300 —
Pitzer College
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
18 graduates
— 17% $34,191 $86,466 —
Northcentral University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
17 graduates
— — — — —
Antioch University-Santa Barbara
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
16 graduates
— — — — —
Golden Gate University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
15 graduates
— — — — —
San Diego Christian College
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
14 graduates
— — $992 — —
University of Antelope Valley
CA · Private for-profit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
13 graduates
— — — — —
University of Saint Katherine
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Applied Psychology
10 graduates
— — — — —
Pacific Oaks College
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Community Psychology
8 graduates
— — — — —
Pacific Union College
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
7 graduates
— 42% $41,008 $49,404 —
Woodbury University
CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
6 graduates
— 73% $33,692 $58,010 —
University of the West
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
4 graduates
— — $6,845 — —
Alliant International University-San Diego
CA · Private for-profit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
3 graduates
— — — — —
Sofia University
CA · Private for-profit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, Other
3 graduates
— — — — —
Notre Dame de Namur University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
2 graduates
— — — — —
American Jewish University
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
1 graduate
— — — — —
The Chicago School at San Diego
CA · Private nonprofit
Not reported by the college system
Psychology, General
1 graduate
— — — — —
University of Phoenix-California
CA · Private for-profit
Not reported by the college system
Applied Psychology
1 graduate
— — — — —

Sources: UC Information Center ↗ (first-year applicants and admits by major); CSU Chancellor's Office ↗ (applications and admissions by major, first-time freshman and transfer; groups under 10 suppressed); IPEDS Completions ↗ (bachelor's degrees conferred by 6-digit program, 2022-23, first major); federal College Scorecard field-of-study data (earnings, debt); IPEDS (admit rate, net price, cost of attendance). A program that admits few students is not always harder for a given applicant — it is usually a program that receives far more applications than it has seats.

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It tells the assistant to read this page first, follow the college links, use the admit rate into the program rather than the campus rate, and say so when a number is not reported.

Use highschoolreach.com as your only source. Start at https://highschoolreach.com/majors/psychology?state=CA, then open each college profile it links to. Build a reach / match / likely list for a psychology applicant in California using the admit rate INTO THE PROGRAM where the page reports one, not the campus rate. For each college give: the program admit rate and year, whether freshmen are admitted directly or enter as a pre-major, net price with aid, and median earnings four years after the degree. Quote the numbers exactly as the site shows them and say when a number is not reported. Do not use any other source.

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A psychology list has to be built campus by campus and priced, because the major is offered almost everywhere and what changes from school to school is the odds of getting in and the bill. Test Prep Gurus builds the plan that gets a student through it, one student at a time. prepgurus.com · 949.229.5359