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

47 Ranked Colleges
5,842 Degrees Awarded
$22,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Education 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 Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 35th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,138 and had an average of $29,674 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 7,838 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,089 and $30,845 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 Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank General Education Schools

The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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

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

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

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford University is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 81 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Stanford University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. California State University - Dominguez Hills 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.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at CSUDH

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 Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 108 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Cal State LA also took the #19 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 Cal State LA are $17,723.

Read full report on General Education at Cal State LA

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #4 spot on the list. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 134 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. 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.

Read more about General Education at California State University - Fresno

#20 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 274 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

California State University - Bakersfield ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUB is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 151 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stan State is a public institution located in Turlock, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 116 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Stanislaus are $18,540, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at California State University - Stanislaus

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 103 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at CSULB

#9

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #9, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 176 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

UCLA also took the #2 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 University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Read full report on General Education at University of California - Los Angeles

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 175 students in 2019-2020.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 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 University of California - Riverside are $28,686.

Read full report on General Education at UCR

California State University - Northridge ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 74 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Northridge General Education Report

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

UC Irvine also made our “Best General Education 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 University of California - Irvine are $28,456.

Full UC Irvine General Education Report

#13

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

University of California - Berkeley came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 14 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #8 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 University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Full UC Berkeley General Education Report

California State University - Sacramento landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 74 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best General Education 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 Sac State General Education Report

#15

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#17 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 153 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Diego State University General Education Report

#16

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCSB is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 149 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at UCSB

University of California - San Diego landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCSD is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 61 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 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 UCSD are $28,631.

Read full report on General Education at UCSD

University of California - Davis came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 135 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Cal Poly Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 23 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cal Poly Pomona General Education Report

With a ranking of #20, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - San Marcos is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 35 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at CSUSM

#21

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#23 in overall quality

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 227 students 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790.

Read full report on General Education at San Jose State University

California State University - Monterey Bay ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Seaside, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 55 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUMB are $18,081.

Read full report on General Education at CSUMB

#23

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSUSB is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 60 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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

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

California State University - East Bay ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 32 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at Cal State East Bay

#25

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. 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 education degrees to qualified students.

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 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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