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2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid

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 Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 16 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.

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.

More Ways to Rank Area Studies Schools

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 Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, 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 Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid. 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 the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at Stanford University

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school handed out 29 degrees to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at UW Seattle

#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - 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 Getting Aid. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 15 diplomas 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 more about Area Studies at Cal State LA

#4

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 #4 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 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 with aid list, UCLA has also earned the #2 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 - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at UCLA

#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. 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 made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at California State University - Fullerton

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took 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 California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSULB Area Studies Report

#4 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley 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 Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 9 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree area studies students with aid 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Berkeley

#11 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 2 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Area Studies at UCR

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree area studies students with aid list, UCSD has also earned the #7 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 - San Diego are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCSD Area Studies Report

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

SDSU also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Diego State University Area Studies Report

#11

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara 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 Getting Aid ranking. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 3 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Area Studies at UCSB

#12

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii

University of Hawaii at Manoa came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Honolulu, Hawaii is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

UH Manoa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH Manoa are $34,550, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Area Studies at UH Manoa

#13

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon
#9 in overall quality

University of Oregon came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.

UO also took 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UO Area Studies Report

University of California - Davis ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. UC Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 1 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region master’s degree area studies students with aid list, UC Davis has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700.

Read full report on Area Studies at UC Davis

#15

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of Southern California ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of Southern California

#16

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. USFCA is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USFCA, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” 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 USFCA

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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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