2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
Liberal Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 2nd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 365,980 degrees were awarded to students with this major.
Across California, there were 94,556 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,493 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 43 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts programs, but they also 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 liberal arts program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $30-$48k) in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 180 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Los Angeles is $2,117 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Stanislaus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Stanislaus is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 235 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Stan State also took the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $3,958 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #3 spot on the list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 485 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees 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 Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $3,731 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at California State University - Fresno
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 129 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUDH is $3,115 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at California State University - Dominguez Hills
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 320 students in 2019-2020.
CSUN also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $6,883 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Northridge.
The low student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
California State University - Long Beach ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 240 students in 2019-2020.
CSULB also took the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $7,595 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Soka University of America landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Soka University of America is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Aliso Viejo, California. It awarded 93 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Soka University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Soka University of America is $9,210 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Soka University of America
California State University - Fullerton came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 125 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $6,100 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.
The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
California State University - San Bernardino landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUSB is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 315 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Bernardino is $5,869 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at California State University - San Bernardino
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a large public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 78 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $14,680 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
San Diego State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 206 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for SDSU is $10,594 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
California State University - Bakersfield came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUB is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 265 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $3,880 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Bakersfield.
With a ranking of #13, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCR is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 142 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
UCR also took the #23 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,151 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UCR.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Liberal Arts at University of California - Riverside
With a ranking of #14, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 177 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,823 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Sacramento.
The low student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Monterey Bay is a medium-sized school located in Seaside, California that handed out 138 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUMB, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,567 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Monterey Bay.
The low student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school handed out 185 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.
CSUSM also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Marcos is $10,347 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
California State University - East Bay landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 95 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State East Bay is $8,891 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
San Francisco State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 115 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,517 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SFSU.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at San Francisco State University
San Jose State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
San Jose State also took the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $11,752 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #20, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 130 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,630 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Liberal Arts at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Sonoma State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sonoma State University is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 148 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for SSU is $13,248 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Chico State is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 205 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Chico is $11,576 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at California State University - Chico
Thomas Aquinas College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Thomas Aquinas College is a small school located in Santa Paula, California that handed out 95 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.
TAC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,386 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend TAC.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
California State University - Channel Islands ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Channel Islands is located in Camarillo, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 126 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Channel Islands is $11,497 for california bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at California State University - Channel Islands
With a ranking of #25, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Arcata, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 104 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Humboldt State University is $12,775 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Humboldt State University
- Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
- Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $30-$48k)
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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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