2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (Income $30-$48k) in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 $30-$48k” 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 4 colleges that offer a degree 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the computer software and applications program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Computer Software & Applications Schools

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 Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 4 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

#1 in overall quality

$48,715 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 72 masters’s computer software degrees to qualified students.

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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on 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 $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 29 masters’s computer software degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about 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 $30-$48k list. Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 327 masters’s computer software degrees to qualified students.

Academy of Art University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at Academy of Art University

#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 be in good company if you decide to attend Art Center College of Design. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Art Center College of Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 14 masters’s computer software degrees in 2019-2020.

Art Center College of Design not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Art Center College of Design Computer Software & Applications Report

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (Income $30-$48k)

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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