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

25 Ranked Colleges
2,764 Degrees Awarded
$23,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

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 Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 53,722 people earned their degree in computer science, making the major the 11th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 12,060 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,764 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 25 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in computer science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great computer science 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 computer science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s computer science degrees to 306 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Computer Science 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 Stanford University are $55,011.

Read more about Computer Science at Stanford University

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 14 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at UC Berkeley

#14 in overall quality

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 Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 58 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Computer Science 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 California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Read full report on Computer Science at Cal State LA

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 294 masters’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSD has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at UCSD

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 65 degrees to qualified masters’s computer science students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Irvine has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Computer Science 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 UC Irvine are $28,456.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of California - Irvine

#11 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 101 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Computer Science 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 California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Read full report on Computer Science at Cal State Fullerton

#22 in overall quality

California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 20 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUDH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at CSUDH

#21 in overall quality

California State University - Fresno came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 18 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #21. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at Fresno State

#13 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 96 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Computer Science 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.

Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Long Beach

#10

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#6 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 masters’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

UCSB also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at UCSB

#11

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#10 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 masters’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCR has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at UCR

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#9 in overall quality

San Diego State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 42 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at San Diego State University

#20 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s computer science students in 2019-2020.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at California State University - Northridge

#14

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s computer science degrees to 996 students in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at University of Southern California

#15

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUSB is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

CSUSB also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at CSUSB

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 39 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $0-$30k list, Sac State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Sac State Computer Science Report

#17

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 39 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of California - Santa Cruz

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 masters’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

Cal Poly Pomona also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are $18,377, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Computer Science Report

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Marcos, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer science degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $0-$30k list, CSUSM has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - San Marcos Computer Science Report

#20

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#12 in overall quality

San Jose State University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer science degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Computer Science 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 University are $18,790.

Full San Jose State Computer Science Report

#19 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Cal State East Bay is located in Hayward, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 masters’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

Cal State East Bay also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. 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 full report on Computer Science at Cal State East Bay

#22

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#17 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 27 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $0-$30k list, SFSU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Computer Science 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 Francisco State University are $17,944.

Read more about Computer Science at SFSU

California State University - Channel Islands came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSUCI is a medium-sized public school situated in Camarillo, California. It awarded 9 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUCI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Computer Science 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 CSUCI are $17,755.

Read more about Computer Science at CSUCI

#24

National University

La Jolla, California
#18 in overall quality

National University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science 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 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

National University also took the #18 spot in our “Best Computer Science 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 more about Computer Science at National University

#25

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. USFCA is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 masters’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USFCA, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of San Francisco

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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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