by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 81 schools in California, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Master'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.
Our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking is determined by first looking at the combined costs of average tuition, fees, and room and board before any aid is applied. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we include 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:
United States University tops this year’s ranking as the best value (no aid) school for master’s degrees in California for overall quality. This small private for-profit school is located in San Diego, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, United States University is ranked #30 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,969 per year for graduate students.
A rank of #2 on our Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list means The Master’s University and Seminary is a great place for students working on their degree. The Master’s University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Santa Clarita, California.
The Master’s University and Seminary has the honor of being ranked #15 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,910 a year.
Learn More About Value at The Master’s University and Seminary
A rank of #3 on our Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list means University of California - Los Angeles is a great place for students working on their degree. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California.
Not only is University of California - Los Angeles a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $29,799 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at University of California - Los Angeles
Out of the 81 master’s degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Irvine landed the #4 spot on the list. Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit institution located in Irvine, California.
Concordia University, Irvine has the honor of being ranked #23 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $21,124 a year.
Out of the 81 master’s degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #5 spot on the list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of California - San Diego a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in California for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $29,709 a year.
Read full value report on University of California - San Diego
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking, coming in at #6. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California.
Not only is University of California - Berkeley a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in California for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $34,396 a year.
Learn More About Value at University of California - Berkeley
Fielding Graduate University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fielding Graduate University is ranked #8 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $29,718 per year for graduate students.
Biola University landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Biola is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Mirada, California.
Biola University has the honor of being ranked #29 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $22,208 a year.
California State University - Northridge landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. This large public school is located in Northridge, California.
California State University - Northridge has the honor of being ranked #45 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,979 per year for graduate students.
California State University - Long Beach came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school located in Long Beach, California.
Not only is California State University - Long Beach a great value, but it is also ranked #38 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,218 per year for graduate students.
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. UCSB is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California.
Not only is University of California - Santa Barbara a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $30,280 per year for graduate students.
San Jose State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. This large public school is located in San Jose, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, San Jose State University is ranked #24 for quality in the state of California. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $26,646 a year.
Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. PLNU is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Point Loma Nazarene University is ranked #37 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,180 per year for graduate students.
California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Fresno, California, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California State University - Fresno is ranked #55 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,845 per year for graduate students.
University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking, coming in at #15. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California.
Not only is University of California - Irvine a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in California for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $30,225 a year.
The University of Arizona Global Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. The University of Arizona Global Campus is a large private for-profit school located in San Diego, California.
Not only is The University of Arizona Global Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #41 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,388 per year for graduate students.
University of California - Davis landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
University of California - Davis has the honor of being ranked #13 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $30,626 a year.
Fresno Pacific University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Fresno, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Fresno Pacific University a great value, but it is also ranked #43 in California for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $23,770 a year.
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is ranked #27 for quality in the state of California. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $27,961 a year.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Value Report
Azusa Pacific University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. Located in Azusa, California, the school is a medium-sized private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Azusa Pacific University is ranked #33 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $26,516 per year for graduate students.
Vanguard University of Southern California landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Vanguard University of Southern California is a small private not-for-profit school located in Costa Mesa, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Vanguard University of Southern California is ranked #49 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,356 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Vanguard University of Southern California
California Baptist University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. California Baptist University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Riverside, California.
California Baptist University has the honor of being ranked #44 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $25,030 a year.
Touro University Worldwide landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. TUW is located in Los Alamitos, California and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Touro University Worldwide a great value, but it is also ranked #39 in California for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $26,654 a year.
Golden Gate University - San Francisco did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking, coming in at #24. This small private not-for-profit school is located in San Francisco, California.
Not only is Golden Gate University - San Francisco a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in California for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $30,875 a year.
Read full value report on Golden Gate University - San Francisco
San Diego State University landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
San Diego State University has the honor of being ranked #32 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $28,900 per year for graduate students.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.