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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physics in California

15 Ranked Colleges
251 Degrees Awarded
$30,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Master's in California

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 Physics Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in physics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality physics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the physics program at the school. 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 Physics Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California.

Top 15 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physics in California

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #1 spot on the list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #10 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 CSULB are $17,784.

Read more about Physics at California State University - Long Beach

#2

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #2 spot on the list. UCSB is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 21 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #5 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 19 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree physics students list, UCLA has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at UCLA

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California list. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 16 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree physics students list, UC Davis has also earned the #6 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 UC Davis are $28,700.

Full UC Davis Physics Report

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #5 spot on the list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physics at University of California - Irvine

#8 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #6. UCR is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.

UCR also took the #8 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 - Riverside are $28,686.

Read full report on Physics at UCR

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 UC Berkeley

#9 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #8. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physics at University of California - San Diego

#12 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree physics students list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #12 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 Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read full report on Physics at Cal State Fullerton

#10

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 7 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree physics students list, SFSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at San Francisco State University

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California list. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #15 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 Cal State LA are $17,723.

Full Cal State LA Physics Report

#12

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#11 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California list. University of California - Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #11 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at University of California - Santa Cruz

#13 in overall quality

University of California - Merced came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Merced, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Merced, the school also landed the #13 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 UC Merced are $43,854.

Read full report on Physics at UC Merced

#14

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Stanford University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Physics at Stanford University

#15

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#2 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in California list. California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Caltech, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. 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 more about Physics at Caltech

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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