2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k) in California
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Area Studies is the 106th most popular major in the country with 6,820 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 1,008 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,743 and $17,480 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 651 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great area studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the area studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k) in California
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 21 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Stanford University is $1,145 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 103 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,130 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UC Berkeley.
The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 68 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $6,100 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 99 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
UCLA also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $9,254 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.
The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 96%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Los Angeles
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #5 spot on the list. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 19 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Irvine also took the #6 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Irvine is $10,373 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
With a ranking of #6, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 65 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
CSULB also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $7,595 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSULB.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, 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 89%.
With a ranking of #7, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.
UCR also took the #12 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCR is $9,151 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal State LA also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Los Angeles is $2,117 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.
California State University - Northridge ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUN, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $6,883 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Area Studies at California State University - Northridge
University of California - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSD is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 22 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,974 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - San Diego.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #11, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $10,594 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SDSU.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, 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 89%.
University of California - Davis ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Davis has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Davis is $10,769 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%.
California State University - Sacramento landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 8 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Sac State also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $7,823 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Sac State.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of Southern California came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
USC also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for USC is $16,252 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.
Read more about Area Studies at University of Southern California
University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 27 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSB also took the #11 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $11,895 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.
The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
San Francisco State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Francisco State University is $12,517 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
UC Santa Cruz also took the #15 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $11,793 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UC Santa Cruz.
The low 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Santa Cruz
With a ranking of #18, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Chico is $11,576 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of San Francisco landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USFCA, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $29,186 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend USFCA.
The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of San Francisco
Loyola Marymount University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Loyola Marymount University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 6 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Loyola Marymount also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Loyola Marymount is $35,166 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
- Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
- Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k)
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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.
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- Credit for the banner image above goes to Karl Udo Gerth.
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