Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

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

13 Ranked Colleges
135 Degrees Awarded
$28,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 6,820 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 106th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,008 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,743 and $17,480 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 135 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 13 colleges that offered a degree in area studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality area studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the area studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 32 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies 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 Area Studies Report

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 29 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 Area Studies at University of California - Los Angeles

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Berkeley

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree area studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal State LA has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Area Studies 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 full report on Area Studies at Cal State LA

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #5 spot on the list. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree area studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Fullerton Area Studies Report

#9 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 2 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Riverside Area Studies Report

#8 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 6 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Area Studies at California State University - Long Beach

#8

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#10 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Area Studies 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 Diego State University are $18,658.

Full SDSU Area Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 3 masters’s area studies 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 Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCSD Area Studies Report

#10

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCSB Area Studies Report

University of California - Davis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 1 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also took the #0 spot in our “Best Area Studies 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 Area Studies at UC Davis

#12

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of Southern California came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree area studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, USC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Area Studies 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 Southern California are $48,715.

Read more about Area Studies at USC

#13

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

University of San Francisco ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. USFCA is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 18 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

USFCA also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of San Francisco

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

Featured Political and Social Sciences Schools

Find Schools Near You