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2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

17 Ranked Colleges
251 Degrees Awarded
$29,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Physics is the 67th most popular major in the country with 14,123 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, physics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $42,475 and had an average of $22,421 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 3,131 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,486 and $19,317 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 251 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree in physics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent physics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the physics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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.

Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 17 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Caltech also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at California Institute of Technology

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Stanford also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Stanford Physics Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Riverside. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 30 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #8 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at UCR

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Physics at University of California - Berkeley

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #5 spot on the list. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 5 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cal State LA Physics Report

#12 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Read full report on Physics at California State University - Fullerton

#7

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at UCLA

#7 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at UC Irvine

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #10 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at California State University - Long Beach

#10

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 21 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSB has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670.

Read full report on Physics at University of California - Santa Barbara

#11

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #0 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SDSU Physics Report

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 16 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at UC Davis

California State University - Fresno ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Fresno is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Fresno State also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Fresno Physics Report

#9 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.

UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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.

Read full report on Physics at University of California - San Diego

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Merced are $43,854, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at University of California - Merced

#16

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#11 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at University of California - Santa Cruz

#17

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SFSU Physics Report

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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