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2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

45 Ranked Colleges
5,842 Degrees Awarded
$22,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Education Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

General Education is the 35th most popular major in the country with 29,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,138 and had an average of $29,674 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 7,838 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,089 and $30,845 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.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 45 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general education program at the school. 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 Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 81 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Stanford University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 179 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSUDH General Education Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 108 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Cal State LA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 General Education at Cal State LA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 134 students in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581.

Read full report on General Education at Fresno State

#20 in overall quality

Out of the 45 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #5 spot on the list. Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 274 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Fullerton General Education Report

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 151 masters’s education 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 did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Turlock, California, this fairly large public school awarded 116 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540.

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

California State University - Long Beach came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 103 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at California State University - Long Beach

#9

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 176 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Los Angeles General Education Report

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California

University of California - Riverside landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 175 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCR has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCR General Education Report

California State University - Northridge came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 74 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#12

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

With a ranking of #12, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 14 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Berkeley General Education Report

University of California - Irvine came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Irvine has also earned the #0 rank 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 - Irvine are $28,456.

Read more about General Education at UC Irvine

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 74 students in 2019-2020.

Sac State also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Sac State

#15

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 149 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670.

Full UCSB General Education Report

University of California - San Diego ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 61 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at UCSD

University of California - Davis came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 135 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at UC Davis

#18

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#17 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 153 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Diego State University General Education Report

With a ranking of #19, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSUSM is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at California State University - San Marcos

#20

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#23 in overall quality

San Jose State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 227 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at San Jose State

#21

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

With a ranking of #21, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 60 masters’s 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 - San Bernardino are $17,936.

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

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Cal Poly Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 23 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377.

Read more about General Education at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Seaside, California, and it awarded 55 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Monterey Bay are $18,081, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at California State University - Monterey Bay

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 32 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - East Bay General Education Report

#25

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #25, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Francisco State University is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 126 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Francisco State University General Education 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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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