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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Economics in California (With Aid)

36 Ranked Colleges
5,405 Degrees Awarded
$11,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

General Economics is the 29th most popular major in the country with 28,837 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across California, there were 5,405 general economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 36 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general economics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general economics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general economics 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.

More Ways to Rank General Economics Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for california general economics students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Economics in California (With Aid)

1

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 394 degrees to qualified ’s general economics students in 2020-2021.

UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UC Irvine is $12,209 for California General Economics students with aid.

The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Economics at UC Irvine

2

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #2 spot on the list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 26 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Fresno State also took the #17 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $6,230 for California General Economics students with aid per year to attend California State University - Fresno.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, 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 87%.

Read more about General Economics at California State University - Fresno

3

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 31 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Los Angeles is $3,302 for California General Economics students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 more about General Economics at Cal State LA

4

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #4 spot on the list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 73 ’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,003 for california general economics students with aid per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full California State University - Fullerton General Economics Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Sacramento. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 214 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $11,178 for California General Economics students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Full California State University - Sacramento General Economics Report

6

California State University - Long Beach came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $10,054 for California General Economics students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.

Full California State University - Long Beach General Economics Report

7
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 259 students in 2020-2021.

SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list. It costs about $13,845 for California General Economics students with aid per year to attend SDSU.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, 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.

Read full report on General Economics at San Diego State University

8

California State University - Northridge came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Northridge is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 95 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $8,523 for California General Economics students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 more about General Economics at CSUN

9
SRJC crest
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, California

Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Santa Rosa, California, this fairly large public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s general economics students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SRJC, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $6,585 for California General Economics students with aid per year to attend SRJC.

Read full report on General Economics at Santa Rosa Junior College

10

California State University - East Bay ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal State East Bay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Cal State East Bay is $13,298 for California General Economics students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Economics at Cal State East Bay

11

California State University - Stanislaus landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,566 for California General Economics students with aid per year to attend California State University - Stanislaus.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Economics at Stan State

12

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 123 students in 2020-2021.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Cruz is $17,930 for California General Economics students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read more about General Economics at UC Santa Cruz

13

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Bakersfield, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,454 for California General Economics students with aid per year to attend California State University - Bakersfield.

Full CSUB General Economics Report

14

With a ranking of #14, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSUSB is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 26 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,107 for california general economics students with aid per year to attend California State University - San Bernardino.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full California State University - San Bernardino General Economics Report

15
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. San Jose State is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 126 ’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

San Jose State also made our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $16,542 for california general economics students with aid per year to attend San Jose State University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read full report on General Economics at San Jose State University

16

With a ranking of #16, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Marcos, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.

CSUSM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Marcos is $13,218 for california general economics students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUSM General Economics Report

17
East Los Angeles College crest
East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, California

East Los Angeles College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Monterey Park, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 109 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for East Los Angeles College is $11,028 for california general economics students with aid.

Read full report on General Economics at East Los Angeles College

18
American River crest
American River College
Sacramento, California

American River College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 48 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for American River College is $5,561 for california general economics students with aid.

Full American River College General Economics Report

19

California State University - Channel Islands landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Camarillo, California, and it awarded 17 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

CSUCI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list. It costs about $14,928 for california general economics students with aid per year to attend CSUCI.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 General Economics at California State University - Channel Islands

20

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 54 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $14,304 for California General Economics students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad 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%.

Read full report on General Economics at Cal Poly Pomona

21
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #21, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 75 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

SFSU also made our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $14,459 for California General Economics students with aid per year to attend San Francisco State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Economics at SFSU

22
Antelope Valley College crest
Antelope Valley College
Lancaster, California

Antelope Valley College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Lancaster, California, this fairly large public school awarded 39 degrees to qualified ’s general economics students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Antelope Valley College is $9,277 for California General Economics students with aid.

Read full report on General Economics at Antelope Valley College

23

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 97 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $20,677 for california general economics students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.

Full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo General Economics Report

24
MSJC crest
Mt. San Jacinto College
San Jacinto, California

Mt. San Jacinto College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in San Jacinto, California, and it awarded 21 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,817 for California General Economics students with aid per year to attend Mt. San Jacinto College.

Read more about General Economics at MSJC

25

California State University - Chico landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Chico is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 30 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best General Economics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Chico is $16,218 for California General Economics students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Economics at Chico State

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