Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

46 Ranked Colleges
5,842 Degrees Awarded
$22,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value General Education Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 28th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 7,838 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,842 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 46 colleges that offer a degree in general education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank General Education Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $48-$75k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stanford University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 81 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree general education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Education 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.

Full Stanford University General Education Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 179 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at CSUDH

#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 108 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best General Education 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 - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Read more about General Education at Cal State LA

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 46 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 134 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Fresno State

#20 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 274 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Education 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 California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about General Education at California State University - Fullerton

#6

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 176 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at UCLA

California State University - Bakersfield ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Bakersfield is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 151 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at California State University - Bakersfield

California State University - Stanislaus landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Stanislaus is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 116 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Stan State

With a ranking of #9, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 103 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

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.

Full CSULB General Education Report

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 175 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at UCR

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Northridge is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 74 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955.

Full CSUN General Education Report

#12

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. 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.

Full University of California - Berkeley General Education Report

#13

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 149 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Education 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 UCSB are $28,670.

Read more about General Education at UCSB

#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school handed out 74 degrees to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at California State University - Sacramento

#6 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 61 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Education 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 - San Diego are $28,631.

Read more about General Education at UCSD

#9 in overall quality

University of California - Davis landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UC Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 135 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at UC Davis

University of California - Irvine came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 7 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. 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 General Education at UC Irvine

California State University - San Marcos landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. CSUSM is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 35 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661.

Read full report on General Education at California State University - San Marcos

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

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 full report on General Education at Cal Poly Pomona

#20

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 227 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #23 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at San Jose State University

#21

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 60 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at California State University - San Bernardino

California State University - Monterey Bay ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Seaside, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 55 degrees to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Monterey Bay are $18,081, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at CSUMB

#23

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#17 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 153 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree general education students whose families make $48-$75k list, SDSU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Diego State University General Education Report

#24

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 126 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at SFSU

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal State East Bay General Education Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You