2023 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in California
43
Ranked Colleges
7,597
Degrees Awarded
$8,500
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
General Education is the 41st most popular major in the country with 29,810 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,719 and had an average of $23,394 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 7,597 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,160 and $26,891 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 43 colleges that offered 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank General Education Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in California
Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Education Schools 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 located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 68 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stanford University is $1,581 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Education at Stanford
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 129 students in 2020-2021.
Cal State LA also took the #21 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal State LA is $2,701 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Cal State LA General Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 121 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fresno is $4,655 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California State University - Fresno General Education Report
Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #4 spot on the list. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 222 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
UCLA also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Los Angeles is $9,891 for california education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about General Education at UCLA
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 45 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,999 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Berkeley.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at University of California - Berkeley
California State University - Bakersfield came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large public school situated in Bakersfield, California. It awarded 136 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,046 for california education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSUB.
Read more about General Education at CSUB
California State University - San Bernardino landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 46 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Bernardino is $6,613 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full CSUSB General Education Report
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 255 students in 2020-2021.
Cal State Fullerton also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $5,821 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Cal State Fullerton
With a ranking of #9, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSUDH is a public institution located in Carson, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 141 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUDH is $3,329 for california education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at CSUDH
University of California - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 127 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSD also made our “Best General Education Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $11,176 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - San Diego.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of California - San Diego General Education Report
With a ranking of #11, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 145 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $9,055 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California State University - Sacramento General Education Report
University of California - Irvine landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 368 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Irvine is $8,449 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at UC Irvine
California State University - Stanislaus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Turlock, California, this fairly large public school awarded 105 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Stan State is $4,903 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at California State University - Stanislaus
University of California - Riverside ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 195 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Riverside is $8,193 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read more about General Education at University of California - Riverside
With a ranking of #15, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 91 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $7,573 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full CSULB General Education Report
University of California - Davis came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 100 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Davis has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $11,598 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Education at UC Davis
San Diego State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 145 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Diego State University is $9,274 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at San Diego State University
California State University - Northridge came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 33 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,103 for california education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSUN.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at California State University - Northridge
With a ranking of #19, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 233 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State University is $13,378 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full San Jose State General Education Report
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 42 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly Pomona is $12,992 for california education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
California State University - San Marcos ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 43 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Marcos is $10,348 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at California State University - San Marcos
San Francisco State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SFSU is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 128 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SFSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best General Education Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $11,862 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at San Francisco State University
California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Monterey Bay is a public institution located in Seaside, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUMB is $10,711 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at CSUMB
California State University - East Bay came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,025 for California Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State East Bay.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - East Bay General Education Report
California State University - Channel Islands landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Camarillo, California, and it awarded 17 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUCI is $13,125 for california education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at CSUCI
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