2023 Best Value Colleges for Political Science & Government in California (With Aid)
58
Ranked Colleges
8,530
Degrees Awarded
$11,900
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
Political Science & Government is the 20th most popular major in the country with 49,282 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,387 and had an average of $23,175 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 8,530 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,769 and $19,462 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 58 colleges that offer a degree in political science and government. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality political science and government programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the political science and government program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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 Political Science 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. 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 Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for california political science students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Political Science & Government in California (With Aid)
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Stanford is $12,894 for California Political Science students with aid.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Stanford Political Science & Government 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 #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 713 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,023 for california political science students with aid per year to attend UCLA.
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%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of California - Los Angeles
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Political Science Schools 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 102 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,302 for california political science students with aid per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.
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 full report on Political Science & Government at California State University - Los Angeles
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Diego. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 469 ’s political science degrees to qualified students.
UCSD also made our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $15,240 for California Political Science students with aid per year to attend University of California - San Diego.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science & Government at UCSD
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 361 diplomas to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC Irvine is $12,209 for california political science students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Full University of California - Irvine Political Science & Government Report
University of California - Berkeley came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 537 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC Berkeley is $16,032 for california political science students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. 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%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of California - Berkeley
University of California - Davis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 328 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Davis also took the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC Davis is $15,768 for California Political Science students with aid.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UC Davis Political Science & Government Report
California State University - Fresno came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 54 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,230 for california political science students with aid per year to attend Fresno State.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 & Government Report
California State University - Long Beach ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. 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 political science degrees to qualified students.
CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $10,054 for california political science students with aid.
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 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Political Science & Government at California State University - Long Beach
University of California - Riverside landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCR is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 282 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california political science students with aid list, UCR has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Riverside is $11,822 for California Political Science students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at UCR
California State University - Fullerton landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 131 diplomas to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fullerton is $8,003 for California Political Science 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 2.5% 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 Political Science & Government at Cal State Fullerton
California State University - Northridge landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 214 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Northridge is $8,523 for California Political Science 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 full report on Political Science & Government at California State University - Northridge
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school awarded 328 degrees to qualified ’s political science students in 2020-2021.
UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,252 for california political science students with aid per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Full University of California - Santa Barbara Political Science & Government Report
California State University - Sacramento came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 167 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State also took the #23 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for california political science 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%.
Read full report on Political Science & Government at California State University - Sacramento
With a ranking of #15, Pomona College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s political science degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
Pomona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” list. It costs about $17,949 for California Political Science students with aid per year to attend Pomona.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Pomona College Political Science & Government Report
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Santa Rosa Junior College is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Rosa, California. It awarded 28 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Santa Rosa Junior College is $6,585 for California Political Science students with aid.
Read more about Political Science & Government at SRJC
With a ranking of #17, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Bernardino, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s political science degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,107 for California Political Science students with aid per year to attend CSUSB.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full CSUSB Political Science & Government Report
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 162 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
SDSU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $13,845 for california political science students with aid per year to attend San Diego State University.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 & Government at SDSU
Claremont McKenna College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s political science degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.
Claremont McKenna also took the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Claremont McKenna is $21,993 for california political science students with aid.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Claremont McKenna College Political Science & Government Report
California State University - Bakersfield ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Bakersfield, California, and it awarded 27 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUB is $7,454 for California Political Science students with aid.
Full California State University - Bakersfield Political Science & Government Report
California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSUDH is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 45 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Dominguez Hills is $4,026 for California Political Science students with aid.
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%.
Read more about Political Science & Government at California State University - Dominguez Hills
University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 201 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC Santa Cruz is $17,930 for california political science students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Santa Cruz Political Science & Government Report
San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 95 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,542 for California Political Science students with aid per year to attend San Jose State University.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full San Jose State Political Science & Government Report
With a ranking of #24, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 131 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
SFSU also took the #24 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SFSU is $14,459 for california political science students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 full report on Political Science & Government at SFSU
California State University - Stanislaus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Turlock, California, and it awarded 20 ’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Stanislaus is $6,566 for california political science students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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 Stan State Political Science & Government Report
