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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k) in California

25 Ranked Colleges
2,764 Degrees Awarded
$23,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 53,722 people earned their degree in computer science, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, computer science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $66,561 and had an average of $23,565 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 12,060 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $70,794 and $21,538 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,764 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 25 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in computer science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great computer science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the computer science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 306 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at Stanford University

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s compsci degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Computer Science at University of California - Berkeley

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. California State University - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 58 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal State LA has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at Cal State LA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. UCSD is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 294 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at UCSD

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #5 spot on the list. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 65 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also took the #5 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at UC Irvine

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 101 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal State Fullerton Computer Science Report

#22 in overall quality

California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSUDH is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

CSUDH also took the #22 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Computer Science Report

#21 in overall quality

California State University - Fresno came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Fresno

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 96 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #13 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Long Beach

#10

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#6 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of California - Santa Barbara

#11

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#10 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 67 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCR has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686.

Full UCR Computer Science Report

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#9 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

SDSU also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at SDSU

With a ranking of #13, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUN is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at CSUN

#14

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 996 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at USC

#15

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

With a ranking of #15, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUSB is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

CSUSB also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at CSUSB

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 39 degrees to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356.

Full Sac State Computer Science Report

#17

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 39 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at UC Santa Cruz

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 28 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona also took the #16 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are $18,377, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

#23 in overall quality

California State University - San Marcos came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSUSM is a fairly large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 10 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSM, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSUSM Computer Science Report

#20

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. San Jose State is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 42 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790.

Read full report on Computer Science at San Jose State

#19 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 58 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at California State University - East Bay

#22

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#17 in overall quality

San Francisco State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 27 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at SFSU

With a ranking of #23, California State University - Channel Islands did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Camarillo, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s compsci degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUCI, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUCI are $17,755, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at California State University - Channel Islands

#24

National University

La Jolla, California

National University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 35 diplomas to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

National University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480.

Read full report on Computer Science at National University

#25

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

University of San Francisco landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s compsci degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, USFCA has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710.

Full USFCA Computer Science Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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