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2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

24 Ranked Colleges
2,764 Degrees Awarded
$23,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Computer Science is the 11th most popular major in the country with 53,722 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 24 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 306 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 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 Stanford University are $55,011.

Read more about Computer Science at Stanford University

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #4 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at UC Berkeley

#14 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Los Angeles

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #4 spot on the list. University of California - San Diego is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 294 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631.

Read more about Computer Science at University of California - San Diego

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer science degrees to 65 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $30-$48k 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 University of California - Irvine are $28,456.

Read more about Computer Science at University of California - Irvine

#11 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 101 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Fullerton

#22 in overall quality

California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Carson, California, this fairly large public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s computer science students in 2019-2020.

CSUDH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Computer Science 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 Computer Science Report

#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 $30-$48k ranking. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

Fresno State also took the #21 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 California State University - Fresno are $17,581.

Full California State University - Fresno Computer Science Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer science degrees to 96 students in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #13 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. 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 more about Computer Science at CSULB

#10

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 31 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at UCSB

#11

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 67 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #10 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 University of California - Riverside are $28,686.

Read more about Computer Science at University of California - Riverside

#12

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California 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 $30-$48k ranking. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 996 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 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 University of Southern California are $48,715.

Read more about Computer Science at University of Southern California

#13

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. SDSU 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.

SDSU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at San Diego State University

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Northridge is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s computer science degrees to qualified students.

CSUN also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at CSUN

#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 $30-$48k list. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 6 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSB, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - San Bernardino

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 39 degrees to qualified masters’s computer science students in 2019-2020.

Sac State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Sacramento 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 $30-$48k list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 39 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #7 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 University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.

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

#23 in overall quality

California State University - San Marcos came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s computer science students in 2019-2020.

CSUSM also took the #23 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Marcos are $18,661, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at CSUSM

#19

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#12 in overall quality

San Jose State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer science students whose families make $30-$48k list, San Jose State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at San Jose State

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, 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 $30-$48k list. Pomona, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer science degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona also took the #16 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 Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Computer Science Report

#19 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at California State University - East Bay

#22

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#17 in overall quality

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 27 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Francisco State University Computer Science Report

California State University - Channel Islands ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Channel Islands is a medium-sized school located in Camarillo, California that handed out 9 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUCI also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. 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 California State University - Channel Islands

#24

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

University of San Francisco landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 38 masters’s computer science degrees in 2019-2020.

USFCA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 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 USFCA are $26,710.

Read more about 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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