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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science in California (With Aid)

18 Ranked Colleges
137 Degrees Awarded
$26,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

Political Science is the 14th most popular major in the country with 46,740 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 7,602 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 137 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in political science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality political science 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 political science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The poly sci school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science in California (With Aid)

#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also made our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at California State University - Los Angeles

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree poly sci students with aid list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stanford Political Science Report

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 25 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science 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 University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Political Science Report

#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Northridge. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. California State University - Northridge is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955.

Read full report on Political Science at California State University - Northridge

#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #14 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science at Cal State Fullerton

#4 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science at UC Irvine

#3 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - San Diego is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree poly sci students with aid list, UCSD has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at UCSD

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 5 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science at CSULB

#8 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 7 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree poly sci students with aid list, UCR has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science at UCR

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

San Diego State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 12 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at SDSU

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree poly sci students with aid list, Sac State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science at California State University - Sacramento

#12

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree poly sci students with aid list, UCSB has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science at University of California - Santa Barbara

#13

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

University of California - Berkeley came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 1 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree poly sci students with aid list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Berkeley Political Science Report

University of California - Davis landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700.

Read full report on Political Science at University of California - Davis

#15

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 8 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also made our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science at SFSU

#17 in overall quality

University of California - Merced landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Merced, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

UC Merced also made our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science at University of California - Merced

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Chico ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Chico, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at California State University - Chico

#18

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#9 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Political Science 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 University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Read more about Political Science at University of California - Santa Cruz

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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.

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