Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k) in California

13 Ranked Colleges
135 Degrees Awarded
$28,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 California For Those Making $48-$75k” 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 California, there were 1,008 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,743 and $17,480 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 135 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 13 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the area studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 California For Those Making $48-$75k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 13 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Area Studies at Stanford University

#2

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 #2 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Los Angeles

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #3 spot on the list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #4 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Berkeley

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also made our “Best Area Studies 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 California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Full Cal State LA Area Studies Report

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #11 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at Cal State Fullerton

#9 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCR has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Area Studies 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 University of California - Riverside are $28,686.

Read full report on Area Studies at UCR

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Area Studies at California State University - Long Beach

#6 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also took the #6 spot in our “Best Area Studies 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 University of California - San Diego are $28,631.

Read full report on Area Studies at UCSD

#9

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #7 spot in our “Best Area Studies 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 more about Area Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. 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 UC Davis Area Studies Report

#11

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 5 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full USC Area Studies Report

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#10 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 2 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Area Studies 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 San Diego State University are $18,658.

Read full report on Area Studies at San Diego State University

#13

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, USFCA has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. 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

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

Featured Political and Social Sciences Schools

Find Schools Near You