2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (Income $0-$30k) in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 13,180 people earned their degree in computer software and applications, making the major the 90th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, computer software and applications graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,738 and had an average of $32,112 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,407 computer software and applications graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,960 and $34,966 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 467 computer software and applications graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 4 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in computer software and applications. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality computer software and applications programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the computer software and applications 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

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 Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree computer software students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 4 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

#1 in overall quality

$48,715 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #1 spot on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s computer software degrees to 72 students in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at USC

#2

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

#3 in overall quality

$28,952 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Cruz. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school handed out 29 degrees to qualified masters’s computer software students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #3 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at University of California - Santa Cruz

#3

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

#2 in overall quality

$27,688 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$62,154 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Academy of Art University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 327 masters’s computer software degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree computer software students whose families make $0-$30k list, Academy of Art University has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Academy of Art University Computer Software & Applications Report

#4

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California

#4 in overall quality

$49,090 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$77,715 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Art Center College of Design. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Art Center College of Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Art Center College of Design, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications 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 Art Center College of Design are $49,090.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at Art Center College of Design

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region
• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (Income $0-$30k)

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

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Negative Space.

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