2023 Best Value Colleges for Social Sciences in California (With Aid)
58
Ranked Colleges
51,680
Degrees Awarded
$11,700
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 Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 205,984 social sciences students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $36,262 and had an average of $23,306 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 51,680 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,887 and $17,995 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 58 colleges that offered a degree in social sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Social Sciences Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for california social sciences students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Sciences in California (With Aid)
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 Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 591 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $3,302 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Sciences at Cal State LA
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 357 students in 2020-2021.
Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford University is $12,894 for california social sciences students with aid.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Stanford University Social Sciences Report
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 2,813 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $15,023 for california social sciences students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 Social Sciences at UCLA
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #4 spot on the list. California State University - Fresno is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 658 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california social sciences students with aid list, Fresno State has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $6,230 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
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 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%.
Read more about Social Sciences at California State University - Fresno
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #5 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 2,093 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california social sciences students with aid list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $16,032 for california social sciences students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, 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 96%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at UC Berkeley
University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 1,848 students in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Irvine is $12,209 for california social sciences students with aid.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full University of California - Irvine Social Sciences Report
University of California - San Diego ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,404 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSD also took the #10 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,240 for California Social Sciences students with aid per year to attend University of California - San Diego.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Social Sciences at University of California - San Diego
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 693 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california social sciences students with aid list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $8,003 for california social sciences students with aid per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Cal State Fullerton Social Sciences Report
California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 378 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,026 for california social sciences students with aid per year to attend CSUDH.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full CSUDH Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #10, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,517 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california social sciences students with aid list, UC Davis has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Davis is $15,768 for California Social Sciences 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Full University of California - Davis Social Sciences Report
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,053 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
UCSB also took the #6 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $16,252 for california social sciences students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Santa Barbara Social Sciences Report
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Santa Rosa, California, this fairly large public school handed out 668 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
SRJC also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $6,585 for California Social Sciences students with aid per year to attend Santa Rosa Junior College.
Read more about Social Sciences at SRJC
California State University - Long Beach ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 764 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california social sciences students with aid list, CSULB has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full CSULB Social Sciences Report
California State University - Northridge came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 944 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $8,523 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Sciences at CSUN
University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 1,301 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Riverside is $11,822 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
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 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 Social Sciences at UCR
California State University - San Bernardino came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. CSUSB is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 394 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUSB is $8,107 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, 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 85%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at California State University - San Bernardino
California State University - Sacramento ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 786 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Sac State is $11,178 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
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%.
Full California State University - Sacramento Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #18, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 373 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State East Bay also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State East Bay is $13,298 for california social sciences students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Cal State East Bay
California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 291 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,566 for California Social Sciences students with aid per year to attend Stan State.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Social Sciences at Stan State
With a ranking of #20, Pomona College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences 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 social sciences degrees to 95 students in 2020-2021.
Pomona also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $17,949 for california social sciences students with aid per year to attend Pomona College.
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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Pomona Social Sciences Report
California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. CSUB is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 198 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Bakersfield is $7,454 for california social sciences students with aid.
Full California State University - Bakersfield Social Sciences Report
Claremont McKenna College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Claremont McKenna is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 179 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Claremont McKenna not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Claremont McKenna College is $21,993 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Social Sciences at Claremont McKenna
San Diego State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 845 diplomas to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
SDSU also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $13,845 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Social Sciences at SDSU
California State University - San Marcos ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school handed out 730 diplomas to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUSM is $13,218 for California Social Sciences students with aid.
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 full report on Social Sciences at CSUSM
San Jose State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 500 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $16,542 for california social sciences students with aid.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Social Sciences at San Jose State University
