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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education in California (With Aid)

47 Ranked Colleges
5,842 Degrees Awarded
$22,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value General Education Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have 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 Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

General Education is the 28th most popular major in the country with 29,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 7,838 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,842 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 47 colleges that offer a degree in general education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education 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 General Education Schools

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 General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree general education students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education in California (With Aid)

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. CSUDH is a public institution located in Carson, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 179 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884.

Full CSUDH General Education Report

#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 108 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cal State LA General Education Report

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 134 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Education 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 Fresno State are $17,581.

Read full report on General Education at Fresno State

#20 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 274 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Cal State Fullerton

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Bakersfield landed the #5 spot on the list. CSUB is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 151 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437.

Full California State University - Bakersfield General Education Report

California State University - Stanislaus landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Turlock, California, and it awarded 116 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Stanislaus are $18,540, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Stan State

California State University - Long Beach landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 103 degrees to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Full California State University - Long Beach General Education Report

#8

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Stanford University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 81 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stanford General Education Report

California State University - Northridge landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. CSUN is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 74 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at California State University - Northridge

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#12 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 175 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best General Education 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 UCR are $28,686.

Read full report on General Education at University of California - Riverside

#11

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 176 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Education 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 UCLA are $28,131.

Full University of California - Los Angeles General Education Report

#22 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 74 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree general education students with aid list, Sac State has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Education 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 - Sacramento are $18,356.

Read full report on General Education at California State University - Sacramento

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also took the #0 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at UC Irvine

California State University - San Marcos came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at California State University - San Marcos

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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.

Read more about General Education at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 61 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 full report on General Education at UCSD

#17

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 227 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at San Jose State University

#18

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 149 students in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at University of California - Santa Barbara

#19

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#17 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 153 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Education 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 San Diego State University are $18,658.

Read more about General Education at SDSU

#20

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 60 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at California State University - San Bernardino

#9 in overall quality

University of California - Davis came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 135 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at UC Davis

California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Seaside, California, and it awarded 55 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUMB are $18,081, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at CSUMB

California State University - East Bay ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school situated in Hayward, California. It awarded 32 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - East Bay General Education Report

#24

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree general education students with aid list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at University of California - Berkeley

#25

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 126 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at SFSU

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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