2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 20 colleges that offered 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.
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.
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Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k) in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Stanford also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford University is $1,959 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 103 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $13,081 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 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%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Berkeley
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 99 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $13,081 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UCLA.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 68 students in 2019-2020.
Cal State Fullerton also took the #13 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,427 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 65 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $10,807 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
University of California - Irvine landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $13,648 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UC Irvine.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
University of California - Riverside landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCR has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,290 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of California - Riverside.
The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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.
Full University of California - Riverside Area Studies Report
With a ranking of #8, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students 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 $5,644 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of California - San Diego landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCSD has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,071 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of California - San Diego.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
California State University - Northridge landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
CSUN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $10,783 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend CSUN.
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%.
University of California - Davis landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Davis also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Davis is $13,578 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 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. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Barbara is $15,343 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
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.
Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara
California State University - Sacramento came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $11,413 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Full California State University - Sacramento Area Studies Report
University of Southern California ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern California is $20,050 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 4 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, SFSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Francisco State University is $16,661 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
San Diego State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 12 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, SDSU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $14,730 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 2 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,253 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UC Santa Cruz.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full University of California - Santa Cruz Area Studies Report
California State University - Chico ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Chico State is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. 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 yearly cost to attend Chico State is $16,116 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Read full report on Area Studies at California State University - Chico
University of San Francisco ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in San Francisco, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 16 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
USFCA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for USFCA is $32,338 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Loyola Marymount University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Loyola Marymount not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola Marymount is $34,284 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
- Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region
- Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k)
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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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