2022 Best Value Psychology 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. 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 Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2019-2020, 183,889 psychology students received their degree, making the major the 7th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, psychology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,496 and had an average of $36,227 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 37,071 psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,748 and $53,340 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 17,900 psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 66 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in psychology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great psychology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the psychology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Psychology (Income $30-$48k) in California
Out of the 66 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 52 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s psychology students in 2019-2020.
Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stanford is $1,145 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 Pomona College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Pomona is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 16 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pomona, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pomona is $8,655 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Out of the 66 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Scripps College landed the #3 spot on the list. Scripps is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s psychology degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Scripps has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Scripps is $7,880 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 66 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 275 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend UC Berkeley is $9,130 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, 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 University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 1,020 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $9,254 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, 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 96%.
California State University - Fullerton landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 723 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $6,100 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. 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 California State University - Fullerton Psychology Report
California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 499 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend CSUDH is $3,115 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 - Long Beach came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 503 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k list, CSULB has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $7,595 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSULB.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%.
Read full report on Psychology at California State University - Long Beach
University of California - Irvine ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 1,004 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Irvine also made our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for UC Irvine is $10,373 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
With a ranking of #10, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’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 bachelors’s psychology degrees to 456 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $3,731 for california bachelor’s degree psychology 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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
California State University - Stanislaus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Stan State is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 373 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Stan State is $3,958 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology 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.
University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 600 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
UCR also made our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $9,151 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UCR.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%.
California State University - Northridge ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Psychology 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 psychology degrees to 804 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $6,883 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSUN.
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 more about Psychology at California State University - Northridge
University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Davis, California, this large public school awarded 806 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s psychology students in 2019-2020.
UC Davis also took the #9 spot in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Davis is $10,769 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 #15, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 687 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $5,869 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - San Bernardino.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full California State University - San Bernardino Psychology Report
With a ranking of #16, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 489 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Sac State is $7,823 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology 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%.
California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in Bakersfield, California, and it awarded 234 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUB is $3,880 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’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 579 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $11,895 for california bachelor’s degree psychology 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 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Psychology at University of California - Santa Barbara
With a ranking of #19, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 524 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s psychology students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for SDSU is $10,594 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology 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.
University of California - San Diego ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 463 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSD also made our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend UCSD is $9,974 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s psychology degrees to 514 students in 2019-2020.
UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Cruz is $11,793 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Santa Cruz Psychology Report
California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. CSUSM is a fairly large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 307 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $10,347 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSUSM.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Psychology at California State University - San Marcos
San Jose State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 428 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s psychology students in 2019-2020.
San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $11,752 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend San Jose State.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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%.
California State University - East Bay ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s psychology degrees to 345 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State East Bay is $8,891 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full California State University - East Bay Psychology Report
University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 156 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.
USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,252 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend USC.
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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read more about Psychology at University of Southern California
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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 Nevit Dilmen.
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