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2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California

66 Ranked Colleges
14,211 Degrees Awarded
$19,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Education Schools for a Master's in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

With 310,601 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 24,764 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $55,134 and $37,359 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 14,211 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” ranking, we looked at 66 colleges that offer a degree in education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the education program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 for a Master’s in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education in California

#1

Concordia University, Irvine

Irvine, California
#23 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Irvine. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California. This small school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 519 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best 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 Concordia University, Irvine are $8,121.

Read more about Education at Concordia University, Irvine

#2

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 66 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Azusa Pacific University landed the #2 spot on the list. Azusa Pacific University is located in Azusa, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 381 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Azusa Pacific did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific University are $16,571, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at Azusa Pacific University

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 for a Master’s in California. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 295 masters’s education 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 - Fresno are $17,581.

Read full report on Education at Fresno State

#4

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, California
#20 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fresno Pacific University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California list. Fresno Pacific University is a small school located in Fresno, California that handed out 152 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree education students list, Fresno Pacific has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best 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 Pacific University are $15,000.

Full Fresno Pacific Education Report

#5

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 176 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best 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 UCLA are $28,131.

Full UCLA Education Report

#6

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#24 in overall quality

Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 200 students in 2019-2020.

PLNU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at PLNU are $11,880, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Point Loma Nazarene University

#8 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 61 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also took the #8 spot in our “Best 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 UCSD are $28,631.

Read full report on Education at University of California - San Diego

#8

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 149 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 196 masters’s education 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 - Long Beach are $17,784.

Full California State University - Long Beach Education Report

With a ranking of #10, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 350 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Education at California State University - Northridge

#22 in overall quality

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #11. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 337 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal State LA Education Report

#10 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 130 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also took the #10 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Irvine Education Report

#13

Brandman University

Irvine, California
#18 in overall quality

Brandman University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Brandman University is located in Irvine, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 632 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree education students list, Brandman has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brandman are $12,540, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Brandman

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 461 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Fullerton Education Report

California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. CSUDH is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 223 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 CSUDH are $17,884.

Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Education Report

#16

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California list. Loyola Marymount University is a medium-sized school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 493 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount also took the #4 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount are $19,756, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at Loyola Marymount University

#12 in overall quality

University of California - Davis landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 135 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

UC Davis also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700.

Full University of California - Davis Education Report

#18

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #18. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 434 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at San Diego State University

#19

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California

Mount Saint Mary’s University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. MSMU is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 48 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MSMU are $12,612.

Full MSMU Education Report

#20

Biola University

La Mirada, California

Biola University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California list. Biola is a medium-sized school located in La Mirada, California that handed out 55 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Biola are $11,772, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Biola University Education Report

#21

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California list. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 175 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at UCR

California State University - Bakersfield ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California list. CSUB is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 188 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Bakersfield Education Report

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #23. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 101 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Education at Sac State

#24

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 230 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944.

Read full report on Education at SFSU

#25

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #25. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 254 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Jose State University Education Report

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 Horadrim.

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