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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in the Far Western US Region

15 Ranked Colleges
192 Degrees Awarded
$29,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master's in the Far Western US Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in area studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great area studies programs and cost less that 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. 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 for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to 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 for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region

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

Top 15 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in the Far Western US Region

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. CSULB 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.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Area Studies at CSULB

#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 the Far Western US Region. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s area studies degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 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 - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Area Studies Report

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. UW Seattle is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 29 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294.

Read full report on Area Studies at UW Seattle

#4

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of San Francisco landed the #4 spot on the 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.

USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of San Francisco

#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 list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. 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

#6

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Diego State University Area Studies Report

#7 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego 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 ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s area studies students 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 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 University of California - San Diego are $28,631.

Read more about Area Studies at University of California - San Diego

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 9 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #4 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 California - Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Area Studies at UC Berkeley

#9

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Oregon did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. UO is located in Eugene, Oregon and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

UO did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UO are $29,991.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of Oregon

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Los Angeles came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 15 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#11

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 3 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara

#12

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#11 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s area studies students in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #11 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 California - Riverside are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Area Studies at University of California - Riverside

#13

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii

University of Hawaii at Manoa ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. UH Manoa is a fairly large public school situated in Honolulu, Hawaii. It awarded 19 masters’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Manoa also took the #13 spot 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 UH Manoa are $34,550.

Full University of Hawaii at Manoa Area Studies Report

#14

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

USC also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715.

Full USC Area Studies Report

#15

Stanford University

Stanford, California

With a ranking of #15, Stanford University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region list. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 masters’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Stanford also made our “Best Area Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stanford Area Studies Report

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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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