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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region

16 Ranked Colleges
192 Degrees Awarded
$29,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master's in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

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 the Far Western US region, there were 1,412 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,483 and $21,165 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 192 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in area studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality area studies 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 area studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The area studies 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 Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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. 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 Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region master’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Area Studies at Stanford

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 29 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW Seattle has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UW Seattle Area Studies Report

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 29 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #2 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Los Angeles

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Berkeley

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #15. 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 Area Studies at California State University - Los Angeles

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 6 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cal State Fullerton Area Studies Report

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Long Beach Area Studies Report

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Riverside is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 2 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at UCR

#7 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631.

Full University of California - San Diego Area Studies Report

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

San Diego State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 2 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. 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 Area Studies at San Diego State University

#11

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of Southern California came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 5 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Southern California

#12

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. UCSB is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 3 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree area studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCSB has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. 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 Area Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara

University of California - Davis landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #0. 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 Area Studies at UC Davis

#14

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon
#9 in overall quality

University of Oregon did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Eugene, Oregon is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UO, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oregon are $29,991, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Oregon Area Studies Report

#15

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii

University of Hawaii at Manoa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. UH Manoa is a public institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Manoa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Hawaii at Manoa are $34,550, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UH Manoa Area Studies Report

#16

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

University of San Francisco landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USFCA also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of San Francisco

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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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