2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 205,726 social sciences students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 50,479 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,934 and $19,309 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,902 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 36 colleges that offer a degree in social sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social sciences 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 social sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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The social sciences 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid”.
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Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in California (With Aid)
Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 73 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884.
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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 68 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full California State University - Los Angeles Social Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 73 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree social sciences students with aid list, UC Irvine has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Fullerton ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 47 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Social Sciences at California State University - Fullerton
University of California - Los Angeles ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 142 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
UCLA also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of California - Los Angeles Social Sciences Report
California State University - Fresno landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of California - San Diego landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 140 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Social Sciences 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 UCSD are $28,631.
Read more about Social Sciences at University of California - San Diego
California State University - Long Beach landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 58 students in 2019-2020.
CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 CSULB are $17,784.
University of California - Berkeley came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s 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 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 - Berkeley are $29,347.
Read full report on Social Sciences at University of California - Berkeley
University of California - Riverside came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 17 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
UCR also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686.
With a ranking of #13, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 96 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Social Sciences at San Diego State University
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSB also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - Sacramento came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Social Sciences at California State University - Sacramento
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 22 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #17, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
CSUSM also took the #24 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Social Sciences at California State University - San Marcos
With a ranking of #18, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 41 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 more about Social Sciences at University of California - Davis
San Jose State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree social sciences students with aid list, San Jose State has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Social Sciences at San Jose State University
University of California - Merced landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UC Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 11 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 8 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly Pomona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Social Sciences Report
California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Cal State East Bay is located in Hayward, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.
San Francisco State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 33 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - Chico ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full California State University - Chico Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #25, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $21,009.
Read more about Social Sciences at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (With Aid)
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to AndrГ© KГјnzelmann.
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