2023 Most Popular Colleges for International Studies in California
36
Ranked Colleges
1,569
Degrees Awarded
$34,800
Avg Cost*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 7,368 people earned their degree in international studies, making the major the 100th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, international studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,198 and had an average of $21,594 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 1,569 international studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,635 and $16,885 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California” ranking analyzed 36 colleges that offered a degree in international studies. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in international studies.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California
The colleges and universities below are the best for california international studies students.
Top 27 Most Popular Colleges for International Studies in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Diego. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 585 diplomas to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on International Studies at UCSD
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 293 students in 2020-2021.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of California - Santa Barbara International Studies Report
Out of the 36 schools in the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #3 spot on the list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 172 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 UC Irvine International Studies Report
Out of the 36 schools in the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #4 spot on the list. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 135 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
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 International Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pepperdine University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California list. Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit institution located in Malibu, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Pepperdine International Studies Report
California State University - Long Beach landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 44 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read more about International Studies at California State University - Long Beach
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Studies at UCLA
California State University Maritime Academy landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. Cal Maritime is a small school located in Vallejo, California that handed out 30 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
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 more about International Studies at California State University Maritime Academy
University of California - Riverside landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on International Studies at University of California - Riverside
University of Southern California came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 23 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 International Studies at University of Southern California
California State University - Channel Islands came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. California State University - Channel Islands is located in Camarillo, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 more about International Studies at California State University - Channel Islands
Humboldt State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
Full Humboldt State University International Studies Report
California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. California State University - Monterey Bay is a public institution located in Seaside, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Studies at California State University - Monterey Bay
Concordia University, Irvine landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. This small school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 15 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Read full report on International Studies at Concordia University, Irvine
California State University - East Bay landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 15 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Studies at Cal State East Bay
San Jose State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. San Jose State is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 14 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on International Studies at San Jose State University
With a ranking of #17, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California list. USFCA is a fairly large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 11 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Read full report on International Studies at USFCA
University of the Pacific ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California list. Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Stockton, California. It awarded 9 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
Read more about International Studies at Pacific
San Diego State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 8 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
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 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full San Diego State University International Studies Report
California State University - San Marcos landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 8 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full CSUSM International Studies Report
Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 International Studies at PLNU
Chapman University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. Chapman University is located in Orange, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Studies at Chapman University
Sonoma State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking, coming in at #23. Rohnert Park, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full SSU International Studies Report
Pitzer College ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California list. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on International Studies at Pitzer
Whittier College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended International Studies Major in California ranking. This small school is located in Whittier, California, and it awarded 3 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full Whittier International Studies Report
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