2023 Best Value Colleges for General Social Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in California
22
Ranked Colleges
9,318
Degrees Awarded
$10,800
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
General Social Sciences is the 44th most popular major in the country with 18,762 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across California, there were 9,318 general social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in general social sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general social sciences programs and 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 general social sciences program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for General Social Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in California
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #1 spot on the list. Santa Rosa, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 461 students in 2020-2021.
SRJC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Rosa Junior College is $5,728 for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at Santa Rosa Junior College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 22 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC Irvine is $6,540 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of California - Irvine General Social Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.
SDSU also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SDSU is $7,169 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about General Social Sciences at San Diego State University
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - San Bernardino landed the #4 spot on the list. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 21 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUSB also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for CSUSB is $5,985 for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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 Social Sciences at CSUSB
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #5 spot on the list. California State University - Monterey Bay is a public institution located in Seaside, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUMB also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSUMB is $9,192 for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at California State University - Monterey Bay
California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. California State University - Stanislaus is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 66 ’s general social sciences degrees to qualified students.
Stan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Stan State is $4,122 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Stan State
Butte College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Oroville, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 372 degrees to qualified ’s general social sciences students in 2020-2021.
Butte College also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Butte College is $5,170 for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Butte College General Social Sciences Report
University of Southern California landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for USC is $17,287 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Southern California General Social Sciences Report
American River College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. American River is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 451 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at American River, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for American River is $4,848 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full American River General Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #10, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chico State is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 74 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Chico State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Chico State is $11,754 for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 more about General Social Sciences at Chico State
San Jose State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, San Jose State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $12,158 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, 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 86%.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at San Jose State
With a ranking of #12, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 27 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,163 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Sac State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at California State University - Sacramento
Mt. San Jacinto College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Jacinto, California, and it awarded 230 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSJC, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSJC is $4,949 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at MSJC
Antelope Valley College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lancaster, California, this fairly large public school awarded 311 degrees to qualified ’s general social sciences students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Antelope Valley College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Antelope Valley College is $8,649 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Antelope Valley College General Social Sciences Report
California State University - San Marcos ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - San Marcos is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s general social sciences degrees to qualified students.
CSUSM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend CSUSM is $9,397 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
Read more about General Social Sciences at CSUSM
With a ranking of #16, East Los Angeles College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Monterey Park, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 1,106 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at East Los Angeles College, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for East Los Angeles College is $10,646 for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Social Sciences at East Los Angeles College
With a ranking of #17, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Humboldt State University is a public institution located in Arcata, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Humboldt State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Humboldt State University is $11,473 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Humboldt State University General Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #18, Barstow Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Barstow Community College is a small public school situated in Barstow, California. It awarded 128 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Barstow Community College also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Barstow Community College is $8,372 for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Barstow Community College
Whittier College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Whittier College is located in Whittier, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s general social sciences degrees to qualified students.
Whittier did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Whittier is $20,807 for California General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Whittier College General Social Sciences Report
Hope International University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
Hope not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,326 for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hope International University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Hope International University
Brandman University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Brandman is a private not-for-profit institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Brandman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Brandman is $27,866 for california general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Brandman University
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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
- *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
