2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k
58
Ranked Colleges
8,360
Degrees Awarded
$8,300
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 Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 47,549 people earned their degree in political science, making the major the 13th most popular in the United States.
Across California, there were 8,360 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 58 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in political science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great political science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the political science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. 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 Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Political Science (Income $30-$48k) in California
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Political Science Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Stanford University is $1,581 for California Poly Sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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 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%.
Full Stanford University Political Science Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Claremont McKenna College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Claremont McKenna is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Claremont McKenna not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Political Science Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Claremont McKenna College is $8,693 for California Poly Sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Political Science at Claremont McKenna College
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #3 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 537 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Political Science Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,999 for California Poly Sci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Berkeley.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UC Berkeley Political Science Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 713 diplomas to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $9,891 for California Poly Sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, 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%.
Full UCLA Political Science Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pomona College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k list, Pomona has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pomona College is $6,239 for California Poly Sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Political Science at Pomona College
California State University - Los Angeles ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 102 degrees to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Los Angeles is $2,701 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 Political Science at California State University - Los Angeles
With a ranking of #7, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 409 diplomas to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Political Science Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UCSD is $11,176 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Political Science at University of California - San Diego
University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 279 students in 2020-2021.
UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Political Science Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Davis is $11,598 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at UC Davis
University of California - Irvine landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 361 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
UC Irvine also made our “Best Political Science Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for UC Irvine is $8,449 for california poly sci 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 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%.
Read more about Political Science at UC Irvine
Pitzer College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
Pitzer also made our “Best Political Science Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $17,181 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pitzer.
The impressive undergraduate 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Pitzer Political Science Report
With a ranking of #11, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 54 degrees to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $4,655 for california poly sci 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Fresno Political Science Report
University of California - Riverside came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 256 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
UCR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Political Science Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UCR is $8,193 for california poly sci 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 undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at University of California - Riverside
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 328 students in 2020-2021.
UCSB also took the #11 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Barbara is $11,606 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, 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.
Full UCSB Political Science Report
Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Santa Rosa Junior College is a fairly large school located in Santa Rosa, California that handed out 28 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend SRJC is $5,800 for California Poly Sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Santa Rosa Junior College Political Science Report
California State University - Long Beach came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools 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 2020-2021, this school awarded 200 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
CSULB also took the #22 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $7,573 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSULB.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, 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 more about Political Science at California State University - Long Beach
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 131 ’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $5,821 for California Poly Sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, 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 undergraduate students.
Full California State University - Fullerton Political Science Report
California State University - Northridge ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 214 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Northridge is $7,103 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 Political Science at California State University - Northridge
California State University - Sacramento came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 167 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $9,055 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science at California State University - Sacramento
University of Southern California came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Southern California is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 121 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
USC also made our “Best Political Science Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend USC is $17,345 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.
Full USC Political Science Report
With a ranking of #20, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 162 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Political Science Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $9,274 for California Poly Sci 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full SDSU Political Science Report
University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 201 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Political Science Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Santa Cruz is $12,049 for california poly sci 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 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 Political Science at UC Santa Cruz
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. CSUSB is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 56 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUSB is $6,613 for California Poly Sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 4.0% 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 full report on Political Science at CSUSB
California State University - Bakersfield landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bakersfield, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s poly sci degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Bakersfield is $6,046 for California Poly Sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Political Science at California State University - Bakersfield
California State University - Stanislaus ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Turlock, California, this fairly large public school handed out 20 degrees to qualified ’s poly sci students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,903 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Stanislaus.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, 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 87%.
Full Stan State Political Science Report
California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 45 ’s poly sci degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Dominguez Hills is $3,329 for california poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%.
Full CSUDH Political Science Report
