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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in the Far Western US Region

46 Ranked Colleges
2,179 Degrees Awarded
$21,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master's in the Far Western US Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 the Far Western US Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 205,726 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 the Far Western US region, there were 58,601 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,087 and $19,838 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,179 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking analyzed 46 colleges that offered 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the social sciences 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

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 the Far Western US Region”.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in the Far Western US Region

#2

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#23 in overall quality

Out of the 46 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Azusa Pacific University landed the #2 spot on the list. Azusa Pacific University is located in Azusa, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 62 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Azusa Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific are $16,571, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Azusa Pacific

#18 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 58 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree social sciences students list, CSULB has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Read full report on Social Sciences at CSULB

#25 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 31 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree social sciences students list, CSUN has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Northridge Social Sciences Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 11 masters’s social sciences degrees 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 - Fresno are $17,581.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Fresno State

#15 in overall quality

University of Nevada - Reno ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. University of Nevada - Reno is located in Reno, Nevada and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree social sciences students list, UNR has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNR are $21,971.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Nevada - Reno

California State University - San Marcos ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. California State University - San Marcos is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 10 masters’s social sciences degrees 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 - San Marcos are $18,661.

Read more about Social Sciences at CSUSM

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Chico, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

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 Social Sciences at California State University - Chico

#9

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 142 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” 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.

Read more about Social Sciences at UCLA

With a ranking of #10, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 47 masters’s social sciences degrees 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 - Fullerton are $17,892.

Full California State University - Fullerton Social Sciences Report

#11

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#17 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 96 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Diego State University Social Sciences Report

#12

University of Redlands

Redlands, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Redlands did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. University of Redlands is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Redlands, California. It awarded 17 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Redlands not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Redlands are $22,852, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Redlands

#13

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

University of San Francisco landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. USFCA is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 48 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of San Francisco

#24 in overall quality

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #14. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. 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.

Full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Social Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 73 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UC Irvine

California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Carson, California, this fairly large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884.

Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Social Sciences Report

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences 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 - Sacramento are $18,356.

Full California State University - Sacramento Social Sciences Report

#18

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree social sciences students list, UCSB has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. 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.

Read more about Social Sciences at UCSB

University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #19. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a large public school situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. It awarded 8 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Las Vegas are $21,962, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Nevada - Las Vegas

#20

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 33 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944.

Full San Francisco State University Social Sciences Report

#10 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. UW Seattle is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 59 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#22

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington
#21 in overall quality

Washington State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #22. Wazzu is a large school located in Pullman, Washington that handed out 28 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wazzu, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wazzu are $27,561, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Washington State University

#23

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region 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.

Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at San Jose State

#11 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 140 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - San Diego Social Sciences Report

#25

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California

Humboldt State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #25. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 27 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Humboldt State University are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Humboldt State University

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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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