Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) in California

22 Ranked Colleges
1,497 Degrees Awarded
$19,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $48-$75k

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 $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Public Administration is the 58th most popular major in the country with 17,269 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public administration. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public administration programs and 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 $48-$75k” 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. 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 Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 22 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration (Income $48-$75k) 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 $48-$75k. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 20 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, Fresno State has also earned the #10 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 Fresno State are $17,581.

Full Fresno State Public Administration Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a public institution located in Carson, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 75 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUDH also took the #13 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 CSUDH are $17,884.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSUDH

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at Cal State LA

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 Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. California State University - Northridge is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 226 masters’s public admin degrees 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 California State University - Northridge are $17,955.

Full California State University - Northridge Public Administration Report

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #5 spot on the list. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 125 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Long Beach Public Administration Report

#11 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees 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 California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on 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 $48-$75k 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 also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Stanislaus are $18,540, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

With a ranking of #8, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Bernardino, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 84 students in 2019-2020.

CSUSB also took the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - San Bernardino

With a ranking of #9, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. CSUB is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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

#10

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 175 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

USC also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at University of Southern California

California State University - Sacramento ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 19 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Sacramento Public Administration Report

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 46 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658.

Read full report on Public Administration at SDSU

#13

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 41 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students whose families make $48-$75k list, SFSU has also earned the #15 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 SFSU are $17,944.

Read more about Public Administration at San Francisco State University

With a ranking of #14, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 84 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at Cal State East Bay

#15

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Jose State is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #18 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 San Jose State are $18,790.

Read more about Public Administration at San Jose State

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 $48-$75k ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 12 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Public Administration 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.

Read more about Public Administration at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Chico State also took the #0 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Chico

#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 $48-$75k 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at National University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full National University Public Administration Report

#19

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

California Baptist University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California Baptist University is a fairly large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 30 masters’s public admin degrees 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at California Baptist University

#20

Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, California

Notre Dame de Namur University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Notre Dame de Namur University is a small school located in Belmont, California that handed out 17 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

NDNU also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at NDNU are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at Notre Dame de Namur University

The University of Arizona Global Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UAGC is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

UAGC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Arizona Global Campus are $14,664, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at UAGC

#22

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #22, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Francisco, 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 62 students in 2019-2020.

USFCA also took the #2 spot 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.

Full University of San Francisco Public Administration Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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

Featured Public Administration Schools

Find Schools Near You