2027 Best Value Asian-American Studies Schools in California

[Asian-American Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/asian-american-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value asian-american studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Asian-American Studies Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in asian-american studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Asian-American Studies Schools
Leading the list is California State University Northridge, our #1 best value for asian-american studies in California. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $15,000. Asian-American Studies graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $26,767 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Long Beach earned it the #2 place for asian-american studies. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $12,187 in student loans. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $27,726. Set against $12,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in asian-american studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $17,875. Asian-American Studies graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $31,001 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #4 place for asian-american studies. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career asian-american studies graduates make about $37,581. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for asian-american studies. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $15,740 to complete the asian-american studies program here. Asian-American Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Set against $15,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University placed #6 among the best values for asian-american studies. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Asian-American Studies graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $41,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine placed #7 among the best values for asian-american studies. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for asian-american studies graduates is $18,998. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $26,712. That is a strong return on a $18,998 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value asian-american studies schools. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Asian-American Studies graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $40,040 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis came in at #9 for value in asian-american studies this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $14,155 in student loans. Asian-American Studies graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,563 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,155 median debt. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #10 spot for asian-american studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Asian-American Studies graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Asian-American Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $32,341 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
Pomona College placed #11 among the best values for asian-american studies. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,420 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, asian-american studies degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954. The acceptance rate is 7%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.