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2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

27 Ranked Colleges
1,315 Degrees Awarded
$23,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

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 “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 134,326 general psychology students received their degree, making the major the 4th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, general psychology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $28,999 and had an average of $26,247 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 27,163 general psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,241 and $31,161 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,315 general psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 27 colleges that offered a degree in general psychology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general psychology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general psychology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. 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 Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Psychology (Income $30-$48k) in California

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #1 spot on the list. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Psychology at Fresno State

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 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 #2 for the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCLA General Psychology Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 33 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Psychology 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 General Psychology at California State University - Long Beach

#21 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best General Psychology 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.

Full California State University - Fullerton General Psychology Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSUDH is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 20 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Dominguez Hills General Psychology Report

California State University - Stanislaus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stan State is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 24 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540.

Read full report on General Psychology at California State University - Stanislaus

#7

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

With a ranking of #7, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 37 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Psychology at San Diego State University

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936.

Read more about General Psychology at California State University - San Bernardino

California State University - Northridge landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Northridge General Psychology Report

#10

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

University of Southern California came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best General Psychology 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 USC are $48,715.

Read more about General Psychology at University of Southern California

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 9 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Psychology at University of California - Davis

With a ranking of #12, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Psychology 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 San Luis Obispo are $21,009.

Read more about General Psychology at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

#13

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#12 in overall quality

San Jose State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also made our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790.

Full San Jose State General Psychology Report

#24 in overall quality

California State University - San Marcos ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSM, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Marcos are $18,661, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Psychology at California State University - San Marcos

California State University - Sacramento landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Sacramento General Psychology Report

#16

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#20 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 44 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Psychology at San Francisco State University

#17

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 4 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best General Psychology 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.

Full UC Santa Cruz General Psychology Report

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are $18,377, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Psychology at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

With a ranking of #19, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 27 diplomas to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Chico General Psychology Report

#20

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California
#25 in overall quality

Sonoma State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Rohnert Park, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree psychology students whose families make $30-$48k list, SSU has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SSU are $18,890, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Sonoma State University General Psychology Report

University of California - Merced landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Merced is a medium-sized school located in Merced, California that handed out 2 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced also made our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Psychology at UC Merced

#22

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California

Humboldt State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 30 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Humboldt State University are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Psychology at Humboldt State University

#23

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California

Pepperdine University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit institution located in Malibu, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 112 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Pepperdine also made our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pepperdine University are $36,320, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Psychology at Pepperdine University

#24

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
#14 in overall quality

University of the Pacific came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stockton, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Pacific also made our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific are $49,374, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of the Pacific General Psychology Report

The University of Arizona Global Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 376 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UAGC also took the #15 spot in our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Arizona Global Campus are $14,664, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full The University of Arizona Global Campus General Psychology 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 BruceBlaus.

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