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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region

16 Ranked Colleges
192 Degrees Awarded
$29,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master's in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Area Studies is the 106th most popular major in the country with 6,820 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 the Far Western US region, there were 1,412 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,483 and $21,165 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 192 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent area studies programs, but they also cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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 Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region

#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 Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 32 masters’s area studies degrees 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 the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Stanford University Area Studies Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 29 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Los Angeles

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #4 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 9 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #4 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Berkeley Area Studies Report

#15 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 #5 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cal State LA Area Studies Report

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 6 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Fullerton Area Studies Report

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #11 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686.

Full UCR Area Studies Report

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 6 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at CSULB

#7 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. La Jolla, 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.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - San Diego Area Studies Report

#10

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. UCSB is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670.

Read full report on Area Studies at UCSB

University of California - Davis landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Davis

#12

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of Southern California ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Southern California

#13

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658.

Read full report on Area Studies at SDSU

#14

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon
#9 in overall quality

University of Oregon came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Oregon is located in Eugene, Oregon and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UO, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UO are $29,991, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Oregon

#15

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii

University of Hawaii at Manoa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. UH Manoa is located in Honolulu, Hawaii and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

UH Manoa also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH Manoa are $34,550, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UH Manoa Area Studies Report

#16

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

University of San Francisco came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of San Francisco is a fairly large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 18 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at USFCA

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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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