2023 Best Value Colleges for Area Studies (Income $75-$110k) in California
17
Ranked Colleges
880
Degrees Awarded
$20,400
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Area Studies is the 115th most popular major in the country with 6,966 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $33,127 and had an average of $20,927 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 880 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,544 and $17,829 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, we looked at 17 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.
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.
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 Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
Top 17 Best Value Colleges for Area Studies (Income $75-$110k) 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 in California For Those Making $75-$110k. Stanford University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 43 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Stanford also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $13,623 for California Area Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Stanford University.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%.
Full Stanford University Area Studies Report
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 in California For Those Making $75-$110k. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 105 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also took the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $21,601 for California Area Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UC Berkeley.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Berkeley Area Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 103 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
UCLA also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $20,697 for California Area Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The undergrad 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Los Angeles
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 48 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
CSULB also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $15,101 for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.
Full CSULB Area Studies Report
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Davis landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 35 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Davis also took the #4 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $18,728 for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UC Davis.
The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Davis
With a ranking of #6, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 59 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fullerton is $12,977 for California Area Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Area Studies at California State University - Fullerton
University of California - San Diego came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 22 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - San Diego is $20,906 for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, 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 94%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - San Diego
University of California - Irvine came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 35 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $20,567 for California Area Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UC Irvine.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad 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%.
Full University of California - Irvine Area Studies Report
San Diego State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Diego State University is $18,957 for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, 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 undergraduate students.
Read more about Area Studies at San Diego State University
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 38 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Barbara is $21,581 for California Area Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
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 undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara
University of California - Riverside came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 21 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,887 for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of California - Riverside.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Riverside Area Studies Report
California State University - Northridge came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUN, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,380 for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend California State University - Northridge.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Area Studies at CSUN
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #13. Chico State is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Chico State is $20,708 for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.
Read more about Area Studies at California State University - Chico
California State University - Sacramento came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $16,925 for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Area Studies at Sac State
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 5 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Area Studies Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Santa Cruz is $22,380 for california area studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UC Santa Cruz Area Studies Report
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