2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Criminology is the 82nd most popular major in the country with 10,182 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, criminology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,583 and had an average of $24,397 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,416 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,967 and $21,881 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 71 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 4 colleges that offered a degree in criminology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminology programs that also have a lower cost than 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 criminology program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

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

Top 4 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminology (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

University of California - Irvine

Irvine, California

#1 in overall quality

$28,456 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$60,325 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 32 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also took the #1 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Irvine Criminology Report

#2

California State University - Fresno

Fresno, California

#3 in overall quality

$17,581 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 11 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Criminology 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 California State University - Fresno are $17,581.

Full Fresno State Criminology Report

#3

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

#2 in overall quality

$18,658 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$39,009 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the #3 spot on the list. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 13 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminology at San Diego State University

#4

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

#4 in overall quality

$18,790 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also made our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Jose State Criminology Report

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminology (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region
• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminology (Income $0-$30k)

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.

Featured Social Science Schools

Request Info

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More >