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2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

24 Ranked Colleges
1,497 Degrees Awarded
$19,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 17,269 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 58th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, public administration graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $48,859 and had an average of $42,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,888 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,265 and $36,406 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,497 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in public administration. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public administration 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 public administration 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.

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 Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 24 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $0-$30k) in California

#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 20 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Fresno State

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 Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. CSUDH is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 75 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

CSUDH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSUDH Public Administration Report

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 Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 24 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also took the #22 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. 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 more about Public Administration at California State University - Los Angeles

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 226 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

CSUN also took the #3 spot in our “Best Public Administration 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 CSUN are $17,955.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSUN

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 125 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, CSULB has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration 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 California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Read more about Public Administration at CSULB

#11 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Cal State Fullerton

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Stanislaus is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Stan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stan State Public Administration Report

#8

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, SDSU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Public Administration 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 SDSU are $18,658.

Full SDSU Public Administration Report

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - San Bernardino is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 84 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

CSUSB also took the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSUSB Public Administration Report

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. California State University - Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

CSUB also took the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at California State University - Bakersfield

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Public Administration 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 Sac State are $18,356.

Full Sac State Public Administration Report

#12

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 175 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at USC

#13

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 41 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SFSU Public Administration Report

California State University - East Bay ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 84 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal State East Bay has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Public Administration 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 California State University - East Bay are $17,828.

Read full report on Public Administration at California State University - East Bay

#15

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 28 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at San Jose State University

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 12 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal Poly Pomona has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal Poly Pomona Public Administration Report

California State University - Chico came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chico, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Chico State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Public Administration 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 Public Administration at Chico State

#18

National University

La Jolla, California

National University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 96 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, National University has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at National University

#19

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

California Baptist University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Baptist, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration 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 Cal Baptist are $14,140.

Full Cal Baptist Public Administration Report

The University of Arizona Global Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 58 students in 2019-2020.

UAGC also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Arizona Global Campus are $14,664.

Read full report on Public Administration at UAGC

#21

Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, California

With a ranking of #21, Notre Dame de Namur University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. NDNU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Belmont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NDNU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NDNU are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at NDNU

#22

Brandman University

Irvine, California

Brandman University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Brandman is located in Irvine, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Brandman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Public Administration 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 Brandman are $12,540.

Full Brandman University Public Administration Report

#23

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #23, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. USFCA is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 62 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students whose families make $0-$30k list, USFCA has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of San Francisco

#24

University of La Verne

La Verne, California

University of La Verne did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. ULV is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in La Verne, California. It awarded 26 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

ULV also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at ULV are $14,526, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full ULV Public Administration Report

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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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