by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 46 schools across California to determine which have the best value Doctor's Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Stanford University tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $0-$30k) school for doctor’s degrees in California for overall quality. Located in Stanford, California, the school is a fairly large private not-for-profit institution.
Stanford University has the honor of being ranked #1 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
The quality degree programs at University of California - Berkeley helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of California - Berkeley a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in California for overall quality.
Read full value report on University of California - Berkeley
A rank of #3 on our Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list means San Diego State University is a great place for students working on their degree. This large public school is located in San Diego, California.
San Diego State University has the honor of being ranked #22 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
The quality degree programs at California State University - Fullerton helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California.
California State University - Fullerton has the honor of being ranked #29 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
The quality degree programs at University of California - Los Angeles helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Los Angeles is ranked #6 for quality in the state of California.
Learn More About Value at University of California - Los Angeles
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #6. CSUSB is located in San Bernardino, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
California State University - San Bernardino has the honor of being ranked #38 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Full California State University - San Bernardino Value Report
With a ranking of #7, California Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is California Institute of Technology a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in California for overall quality.
University of Southern California landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California.
Not only is University of Southern California a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in California for overall quality.
University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #9. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - San Diego is ranked #10 for quality in the state of California.
Learn More About Value at University of California - San Diego
University of California - Irvine landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Irvine is ranked #19 for quality in the state of California.
California State University - Los Angeles ranked #11 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school located in Los Angeles, California.
Not only is California State University - Los Angeles a great value, but it is also ranked #49 in California for overall quality.
California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #12. California State University - Fresno is a large public school located in Fresno, California.
Not only is California State University - Fresno a great value, but it is also ranked #41 in California for overall quality.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Fresno
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #13 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of California - Santa Barbara a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in California for overall quality.
California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #14. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California.
California State University - Long Beach has the honor of being ranked #35 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
California State University - Sacramento came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. This large public school is located in Sacramento, California.
California State University - Sacramento has the honor of being ranked #44 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Sacramento
University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #16. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Davis is ranked #13 for quality in the state of California.
California State University - Northridge came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. CSUN is located in Northridge, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is California State University - Northridge a great value, but it is also ranked #39 in California for overall quality.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Northridge
University of the Pacific landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. University of the Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Stockton, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of the Pacific is ranked #18 for quality in the state of California.
University of California - Riverside came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
University of California - Riverside has the honor of being ranked #30 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Learn More About Value at University of California - Riverside
San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #20. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, San Francisco State University is ranked #32 for quality in the state of California.
University of California - Merced ranked #21 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Merced, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Merced is ranked #42 for quality in the state of California.
With a ranking of #22, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California.
Not only is California State University - East Bay a great value, but it is also ranked #46 in California for overall quality.
Read full value report on California State University - East Bay
University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #23 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school located in Santa Cruz, California.
University of California - Santa Cruz has the honor of being ranked #21 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
San Jose State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. This large public school is located in San Jose, California.
San Jose State University has the honor of being ranked #45 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
With a ranking of #25, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large public school located in Pomona, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is ranked #52 for quality in the state of California.
Learn More About Value at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
View Best Value Doctor’s Degree Schools (Income $0-$30k) Nationwide >
All Majors and Fields of Study >
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.