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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences in California

21 Ranked Colleges
865 Degrees Awarded
$27,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master's in California

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 Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Physical Sciences is the 18th most popular major in the country with 52,879 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $38,122 and had an average of $22,339 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 8,509 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,072 and $18,572 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 865 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in physical sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great physical sciences programs and cost less that 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 physical sciences program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Physical Sciences Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California” 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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree physical sciences students.

Top 21 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences in California

#1

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 87 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” 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.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of California - Los Angeles

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #2 spot on the list. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 30 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree physical sciences students list, CSULB has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at California State University - Long Beach

#3

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 38 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Physical Sciences 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 - Santa Barbara are $28,670.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of California - Santa Barbara

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 118 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also took the #7 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 - San Diego are $28,631.

Full UCSD Physical Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Davis Physical Sciences Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 43 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Physical Sciences 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 - Irvine are $28,456.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of California - Irvine

#4 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 81 masters’s physical sciences 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 Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physical Sciences at UC Berkeley

#9 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree physical sciences students list, UCR has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 UCR are $28,686.

Full University of California - Riverside Physical Sciences Report

#13 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at California State University - Fullerton

#10

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 25 degrees to qualified masters’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 SFSU are $17,944.

Full SFSU Physical Sciences Report

#11

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#12 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

SDSU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Physical Sciences Report

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 28 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 - Fresno are $17,581.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at California State University - Fresno

#16 in overall quality

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #13. Cal Poly Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377.

Full Cal Poly Pomona Physical Sciences Report

#19 in overall quality

California State University - Bakersfield came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. CSUB is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUB, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUB are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at California State University - Bakersfield

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 10 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also made our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Sac State

#16

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree physical sciences students list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Cruz are $28,952.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UC Santa Cruz

#18 in overall quality

California State University - Los Angeles came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified masters’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at California State University - Los Angeles

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Hayward, California, this fairly large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physical Sciences at California State University - East Bay

#15 in overall quality

University of California - Merced did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #19. This medium-sized school is located in Merced, California, and it awarded 11 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Merced are $43,854, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Merced Physical Sciences Report

#20

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Stanford University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. Stanford is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 63 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Stanford University

#21

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#2 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #21. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Caltech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Caltech are $56,649, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Caltech Physical Sciences 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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to NASA.

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