2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 6,820 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 106th most popular in the United States. 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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent area studies programs, but they also 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid.
Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in California (With Aid)
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 Getting Aid. 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.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stanford University is $11,496 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 68 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $7,991 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 65 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
CSULB also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $9,622 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.
Read more about Area Studies at California State University - Long Beach
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,783 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students with aid per year to attend UC Irvine.
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 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Irvine
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #5 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 103 bachelors’s degrees 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. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $15,329 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Berkeley
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Los Angeles is $2,768 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
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%.
With a ranking of #7, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 99 students in 2019-2020.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $14,279 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
California State University - Northridge came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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. It costs about $8,414 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid per year to attend California State University - Northridge.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #9, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 20 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
UCR also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Riverside is $12,871 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students with aid.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
With a ranking of #10, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 22 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCSD is $14,232 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Area Studies at University of California - San Diego
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
Sac State also took the #18 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $9,979 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Sacramento Area Studies Report
With a ranking of #12, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 4 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
SFSU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,113 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid per year to attend San Francisco State University.
San Diego State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s area studies degrees 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. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $14,788 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid 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 $14,669 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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.
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid list, UCSB has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,884 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Chico State is $15,017 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
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 more about Area Studies at California State University - Chico
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 Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for UC Santa Cruz is $18,186 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #18, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.
USC also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $29,528 for California Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students with aid per year to attend USC.
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%. 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.
Read more about Area Studies at University of Southern California
University of San Francisco landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of San Francisco is a fairly large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 16 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for USFCA is $36,424 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Loyola Marymount University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Loyola Marymount is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid list, Loyola Marymount has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loyola Marymount is $42,861 for california bachelor’s degree area studies students with aid.
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.
Read full report on Area Studies at Loyola Marymount University
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Karl Udo Gerth.
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