2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 559,661 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 112,019 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,678 and $19,082 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,907 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 45 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts general studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
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 Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools 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 Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (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 Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 180 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $2,117 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Stanislaus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Stan State is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 235 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stan State, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stan State is $3,958 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 485 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $3,731 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Fresno State.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at California State University - Fresno
Out of the 45 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #4 spot on the list. CSUDH is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 150 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend CSUDH is $3,115 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Out of the 45 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Northridge landed the #5 spot on the list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 320 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $6,883 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at California State University - Northridge
California State University - Long Beach came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 240 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $7,595 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, 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.
Soka University of America landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Aliso Viejo, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 93 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
Soka University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Soka University is $9,210 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Soka University
California State University - San Bernardino came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUSB is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 315 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $5,869 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSUSB.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
California State University - Fullerton landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 125 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $6,100 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.
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 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at California State University - Fullerton
With a ranking of #10, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 108 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $14,680 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
The low student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
San Diego State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 214 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $10,594 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SDSU.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full San Diego State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #12, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Bakersfield is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 265 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $3,880 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Bakersfield.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at California State University - Bakersfield
University of California - Riverside landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UCR is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 142 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Riverside is $9,151 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of California - Riverside
California State University - Sacramento landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 189 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $7,823 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Sac State
California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. CSUMB is a medium-sized school located in Seaside, California that handed out 282 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, CSUMB has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CSUMB is $9,567 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. California State University - San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 185 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, CSUSM has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,347 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - San Marcos.
The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 - East Bay ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Hayward, California, this fairly large public school handed out 95 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Cal State East Bay is $8,891 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full California State University - East Bay Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #18, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 125 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
SFSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $12,517 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SFSU.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at San Francisco State University
San Jose State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 56 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $11,752 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full San Jose State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 130 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly Pomona is $9,630 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Sonoma State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Rohnert Park, California, and it awarded 148 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
SSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sonoma State University is $13,248 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 ranking of #22, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 210 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Chico is $11,576 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts 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 General Studies at Chico State
Thomas Aquinas College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. TAC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Santa Paula, California. It awarded 95 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, TAC has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,386 for California Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend TAC.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, 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 93%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Thomas Aquinas College
California State University - Channel Islands landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Camarillo, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 126 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Channel Islands is $11,497 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts 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%.
With a ranking of #25, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 104 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,775 for california bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Humboldt State University.
Full Humboldt State University Liberal Arts General Studies 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.
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