2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $30-$48k) in California
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 48,831 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 9,937 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $47,367 and $16,994 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,426 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 48 colleges that offer a degree in economics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent economics 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 economics program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Best Value Economics 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 economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $30-$48k) in California
Out of the 48 schools in the Best Value Economics 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. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Stanford has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $1,145 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Stanford University.
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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Out of the 48 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Claremont McKenna College landed the #2 spot on the list. Claremont McKenna is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 118 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Claremont McKenna, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $6,591 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Claremont McKenna.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Out of the 48 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Pomona College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Claremont, California, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Pomona College is $8,655 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 751 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley also took the #4 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $9,130 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, 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 Economics at University of California - Berkeley
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 Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 824 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,254 for California Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%.
Full University of California - Los Angeles Economics Report
With a ranking of #6, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics 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 441 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Irvine is $10,373 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, 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%.
With a ranking of #7, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics 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 economics degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $2,117 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.
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%.
Full California State University - Los Angeles Economics Report
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSB is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 703 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCSB has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $11,895 for california bachelor’s degree economics 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 more about Economics at University of California - Santa Barbara
California State University - Fullerton came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 51 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $6,100 for California Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.
With a ranking of #10, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 30 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fresno is $3,731 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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%.
Read more about Economics at California State University - Fresno
University of California - Riverside came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UCR is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 263 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.
UCR also took the #18 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCR is $9,151 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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.
University of California - Davis came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Davis, California, this large public school awarded 606 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
UC Davis also took the #10 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,769 for California Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UC Davis.
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%.
Read full report on Economics at University of California - Davis
University of California - San Diego ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSD is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 403 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSD also took the #12 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCSD is $9,974 for california bachelor’s degree economics 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 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 more about Economics at University of California - San Diego
With a ranking of #14, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stan State is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 20 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $3,958 for california bachelor’s degree economics 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 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 full report on Economics at California State University - Stanislaus
With a ranking of #15, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 236 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
SDSU also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for SDSU is $10,594 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, 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 89%.
California State University - Long Beach landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $7,595 for California Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at California State University - Long Beach
With a ranking of #17, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 118 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $6,883 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Occidental College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 80 students in 2019-2020.
Oxy also took the #11 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $17,662 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Occidental College.
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%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
California State University - Bakersfield ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSUB is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Bakersfield is $3,880 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
California State University - Sacramento came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 195 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,823 for California Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Sac State.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of Southern California landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 183 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,252 for california bachelor’s degree economics 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
California State University - San Bernardino landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 35 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUSB is $5,869 for california bachelor’s degree economics 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.
Full California State University - San Bernardino Economics Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also took the #16 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $14,680 for California Bachelor’s Degree Economics 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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Economics Report
With a ranking of #24, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 165 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $11,793 for California Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Santa Cruz.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.
Pitzer College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Pitzer is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 29 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
Pitzer did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Pitzer College is $7,693 for california bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%. 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.
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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 pixabay.
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