California Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
This page is an informative guide for high school graduates, career changers, and current teachers looking for teaching programs in California. Many colleges and universities in California offer teacher preparation programs that prepare aspiring teachers for a career in the classroom. For more information on the various teaching degrees in California, we have included a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs and lists of the most affordable and top-rated teaching programs.
Table of Contents
- CA Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 20 Affordable CA Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Top-Ranked California Education Programs
- Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Best Online M.Ed. Programs
- US News Best Graduate Education Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of California Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 72 California teacher preparation programs across key factors. All listed institutions are not-for-profit and approved by the California Department of Education (CDE). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a respected credential accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both —review our California traditional certification guide and our California alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates–tuition, books, room and board–minus grants and scholarships.
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment 2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioch University | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Azusa Pacific University | Yes | 384 | 98 | 98% | 129 | 43 | 100% | $31,367 |
| Bard College | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Biola University | No | 286 | 88 | 95% | 14 | 9 | N.Av. | $34,713 |
| California Baptist University | No | 486 | 79 | 91% | 7 | 7 | N.Av. | $27,883 |
| California Lutheran University | No | 179 | 73 | 84% | 10 | 10 | 90% | $29,669 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | No | 134 | 121 | 94% | — | — | — | $20,491 |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | $15,015 |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | No | 344 | 130 | 92% | 41 | 16 | 79% | $14,457 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | No | 721 | 184 | 83% | 219 | 88 | 99% | $7,697 |
| California State University-Channel Islands | No | 202 | 129 | 75% | 18 | 9 | N.Av. | $15,059 |
| California State University-Chico | No | 227 | 150 | 91% | 108 | 89 | 86% | $16,109 |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | No | 699 | 126 | 71% | 85 | 50 | 78% | $4,683 |
| California State University-East Bay | No | 224 | 116 | 99% | 148 | 86 | 99% | $13,260 |
| California State University-Fresno | Yes | 781 | 393 | 84% | 72 | 57 | 88% | $6,906 |
| California State University-Fullerton | Yes | 604 | 374 | 91% | 33 | 23 | 72% | $8,322 |
| California State University-Long Beach | No | 1461 | 462 | 95% | 47 | 47 | 100% | $10,568 |
| California State University-Los Angeles | No | 793 | 216 | 81% | 71 | 42 | 88% | $3,859 |
| California State University-Monterey Bay | No | 132 | 103 | 60% | 21 | 8 | N.Av. | $13,989 |
| California State University-Northridge | No | 1010 | 257 | 96% | 229 | 102 | 98% | $8,882 |
| California State University-Sacramento | No | 368 | 255 | 93% | 45 | 25 | 92% | $11,473 |
| California State University-San Bernardino | No | 332 | 264 | 90% | 45 | 22 | 89% | $8,492 |
| California State University-San Marcos | No | 215 | 153 | 88% | 3 | 2 | N.Av. | $12,933 |
| California State University-Stanislaus | No | 544 | 190 | 88% | 51 | 13 | 88% | $7,418 |
| Chapman University | Yes | 142 | 60 | 97% | — | — | — | $44,327 |
| Claremont Graduate University | No | 81 | 18 | 100% | 12 | 3 | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Concordia University-Irvine | No | 188 | 122 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $29,893 |
| Dominican University of California | No | 118 | 19 | N.Av. | 118 | 19 | N.Av. | $36,899 |
| Fresno Pacific University | No | 149 | 88 | 95% | 117 | 76 | 97% | $18,728 |
| Hebrew Union College | No | 8 | 8 | N.Av. | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Hope International University | No | 128 | 18 | 87% | — | — | — | $20,470 |
| Humphreys University | No | 7 | 1 | N.Av. | 101 | 24 | 82% | $10,240 |
| La Sierra University | No | 44 | 17 | 65% | 4 | 1 | N.Av. | $24,891 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Yes | 308 | 73 | 80% | 367 | 51 | 94% | $48,758 |
| Mount Saint Mary’s University | No | 68 | 9 | N.Av. | 5 | 3 | N.Av. | $27,346 |
| National University | Yes | 4740 | 365 | 84% | 1035 | 488 | 83% | $21,363 |
| Notre Dame de Namur University | No | 74 | 25 | N.Av. | 39 | 17 | N.Av. | $28,243 |
| Pacific Oaks College | No | 294 | 28 | 52% | 24 | 7 | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Pacific Union College | No | 19 | 3 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $23,163 |
| Pepperdine University | No | 91 | 62 | 76% | 3 | 3 | N.Av. | $46,550 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | No | 544 | 106 | 87% | 114 | 81 | 90% | $34,644 |
| Saint Mary’s College of California | No | 100 | 45 | 84% | 10 | 10 | N.Av. | $40,401 |
| San Diego Christian College | No | 7 | 7 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $27,919 |
| San Diego State University | No | 516 | 226 | 98% | 31 | 14 | N.Av. | $13,192 |
| San Francisco State University | No | 238 | 113 | 85% | 101 | 38 | 97% | $14,757 |
| San Jose State University | No | 643 | 284 | 86% | 100 | 44 | 80% | $15,995 |
| Santa Clara University | No | 46 | 18 | 74% | 9 | 4 | N.Av. | $48,284 |
| Simpson University | No | 58 | 4 | 71% | 27 | 13 | 72% | $23,012 |
| Sonoma State University | No | 214 | 125 | 83% | 14 | 10 | 100% | $17,239 |
| Stanford University | No | 61 | 61 | 87% | — | — | — | $20,023 |
| The Master’s University | No | 9 | 9 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $29,567 |
| Touro University | No | 47 | — | — | 40 | 13 | 90% | N.Av. |
| University of California-Berkeley | No | 71 | 61 | 99% | — | — | — | $19,329 |
| University of California-Davis | No | 105 | 95 | 98% | — | — | — | $17,026 |
| University of California-Irvine | No | 166 | 166 | 100% | — | — | — | $13,106 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | No | 102 | 102 | 91% | — | — | — | $16,474 |
| University of California-Merced | No | 84 | 15 | 60% | 1 | — | — | $13,578 |
| University of California-Riverside | No | 116 | 104 | 93% | 2 | 2 | N.Av. | $11,948 |
| University of California-San Diego | No | 91 | 43 | 98% | 16 | 8 | N.Av. | $15,222 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | No | 82 | 75 | 98% | — | — | — | $17,223 |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | No | 55 | 51 | 89% | — | — | — | $17,842 |
| University of LaVerne | No | 394 | 88 | 83% | 153 | 56 | 71% | $30,061 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | No | 1179 | 180 | 81% | 695 | 231 | 92% | $24,084 |
| University of Redlands | No | 194 | 48 | 90% | 76 | 20 | 50% | $30,240 |
| University of San Diego | No | 110 | 68 | 92% | 5 | 5 | N.Av. | $37,547 |
| University of San Francisco | No | 161 | 29 | 100% | 39 | 9 | N.Av. | $42,801 |
| University of Southern California | Yes | 237 | 137 | 99% | — | — | — | $39,759 |
| University of the Pacific | No | 147 | 92 | 85% | 147 | 92 | 69% | $32,780 |
| Vanguard University | No | 51 | 37 | 93% | — | — | — | $21,667 |
| Westmont College | No | 7 | 6 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $32,418 |
| Whittier College | No | 49 | 17 | 74% | — | — | — | $28,647 |
| William Jessup University | No | 141 | 55 | 78% | — | — | — | $26,094 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in California
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 20 most affordable schools have a net price under $15,000.
- California State University-Los Angeles ($3,859)
- California State University-Dominguez Hills ($4,683)
- California State University-Fresno ($6,906)
- California State University-Stanislaus ($7,418)
- California State University-Bakersfield ($7,697)
- California State University-Fullerton ($8,322)
- California State University-San Bernardino ($8,492)
- California State University-Northridge ($8,882)
- Humphreys University ($10,240)
- California State University-Long Beach ($10,568)
- California State University-Sacramento ($11,473)
- University of California-Riverside ($11,948)
- California State University-San Marcos ($12,933)
- University of California-Irvine ($13,106)
- San Diego State University ($13,192)
- California State University-East Bay ($13,260)
- University of California-Merced ($13,578)
- California State University-Monterey Bay ($13,989)
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona ($14,457)
- San Francisco State University ($14,757)3
Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in California
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in California
Our list of the top 20 bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.
- Claremont Graduate University (100%)
- University of California-Irvine (100%)
- University of San Francisco (100%)
- California State University-East Bay (99%)
- University of California-Berkeley (99%)
- University of Southern California (99%)
- Azusa Pacific University (98%)
- San Diego State University (98%)
- University of California-Davis (98%)
- University of California-San Diego (98%)
- University of California-Santa Barbara (98%)
- Chapman University (97%)
- California State University-Northridge (96%)
- Biola University (95%)
- California State University-Long Beach (95%)
- Fresno Pacific University (95%)
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (94%)
- California State University-Sacramento (93%)
- University of California-Riverside (93%)
- Vanguard University (93%)2
Best Online Master of Education (M.Ed.) Programs in California
Visit our ranking of the best online Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs in California to see the full list plus a breakdown of the most affordable schools.
- Azusa Pacific University
- University of San Diego
- National University
- California State University-Fresno
- Teachers College of San Joaquin
US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2025
- University of California-Los Angeles (#5)
- University of California-Berkeley (#6 tie)
- Stanford University (#15 tie)
- University of California-Irvine (#18 tie)
- University of California-Davis (#40 tie)
- San Diego State University (#45 tie)
- University of California-Riverside (#90 tie)
- Loyola Marymount University (#64 tie)
- University of California-Santa Barbara (#90 tie)
- Loyola Marymount University (#100 tie)
- California State University-San Bernardino (#114 tie)
- Claremont Graduate University (#127 tie)
- Chapman University (#138 tie)
- San Jose State University (#138 tie)
- Santa Clara University (#138 tie)
- University of California-Santa Cruz (#153 tie)
- University of San Francisco (#166 tie)
- University of La Verne (#198 tie)4
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The 91 California schools below offer associate degrees in education.1 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- Allan Hancock College
- American River College
- Antelope Valley College
- Bakersfield College*
- Butte College
- Cabrillo College
- Canada College
- Cerritos College
- Cerro Coso Community College
- Chabot College
- Chaffey College
- Citrus College*
- City College of San Francisco
- Clovis Community College*
- Coastline Community College
- College of Marin
- College of San Mateo
- College of the Canyons
- College of the Desert
- College of the Sequoias
- College of the Siskiyous
- Columbia College
- Compton College
- Contra Costa College
- Cosumnes River College
- Cuesta College*
- Cuyamaca College
- Cypress College*
- Diablo Valley College
- East Los Angeles College
- El Camino Community College District
- Evergreen Valley College
- Feather River Community College District
- Foothill College
- Fresno City College*
- Fullerton College
- Gavilan College*
- Golden West College
- Grossmont College
- Humphreys University*
- Imperial Valley College
- Irvine Valley College
- Lake Tahoe Community College
- La Positas College
- Lassen Community College
- Long Beach City College*
- Los Angeles Trade Technical College
- Los Angeles Valley College
- Mendocino College
- Merced College
- MiraCosta College
- Modesto Junior College
- Monterey Peninsula College
- Moorpark College
- Moreno Valley College
- Mount Saint Mary’s University*
- Mt. San Antonio College
- Mt. San Jacinto Community College District
- Norco College
- Orange Coast College*
- Oxnard College
- Pacific Union College*
- Palomar College
- Pasadena City College
- Reedley College*
- Riverside City College
- Sacramento City College
- Saddleback College*
- San Bernardino Valley College
- San Diego City College
- San Diego Mesa College
- San Diego Miramar College
- San Joaquin Delta College
- San Jose City College
- Santa Ana College
- Santa Barbara City College
- Santa Monica College
- Santa Rosa Junior College
- Shasta College*
- Sierra College
- Skyline College
- Solano Community College
- Southwestern College
- Taft College
- Touro University Worldwide*
- Vanguard University of Southern California*
- West Hills College-Coalinga
- West Hills College-Lemoore
- West Los Angeles College
- West Valley College
- Yuba College
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2025: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings