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City Rankings

Best Colleges in Los Angeles, California

Top colleges in Los Angeles ranked by national standing and graduate outcomes -- updated 2026.

Colleges listed: 20
Avg grad earnings: $62,465

Top Colleges in Los Angeles

Nationally ranked schools appear first. Remaining schools are ordered by median graduate earnings.

#SchoolGrad Earnings
1UCLA

#6 national

$82,511
2USC

#26 national

$92,498
3Occidental College

#116 national

$75,951
4Loyola Marymount University

#194 national

$78,349
5Mount Saint Mary's University

#503 national

$72,379
6California State University-Los Angeles

#605 national

$59,211
7Otis College of Art and Design

#857 national

$58,152
8Los Angeles City College

#1481 national

$36,190
9CBD College

#1634 national

$37,237
10Los Angeles Southwest College

#1740 national

$32,172

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Excludes for-profit institutions.

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