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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Psychology (Income $0-$30k) in California

59 Ranked Colleges
5,805 Degrees Awarded
$23,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 183,889 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, psychology is the 7th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, psychology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,496 and had an average of $36,227 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 37,071 psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,748 and $53,340 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,805 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 $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 59 colleges that offered a degree in psychology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great psychology 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 psychology program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college 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 $0-$30k

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Psychology (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 59 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Stanford also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stanford Psychology Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #0 spot in our “Best 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 UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Full University of California - Berkeley Psychology Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Psychology at Fresno State

#4

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 59 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #4 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #2 spot in our “Best 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 UCLA are $28,131.

Read more about Psychology at University of California - Los Angeles

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 56 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Long Beach Psychology Report

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

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 Psychology Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 11 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Psychology 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 more about Psychology at UC Irvine

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 20 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 CSUDH are $17,884.

Read full report on Psychology at CSUDH

#9

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 51 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Psychology at SDSU

With a ranking of #10, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Psychology at California State University - Northridge

California State University - Stanislaus landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

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

Read full report on Psychology at California State University - Stanislaus

#12

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California

With a ranking of #12, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686.

Read full report on Psychology at UCR

With a ranking of #13, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUB is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUB are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Psychology at California State University - Bakersfield

#14

Touro University Worldwide

Los Alamitos, California
#3 in overall quality

Touro University Worldwide landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Touro University Worldwide is a small school located in Los Alamitos, California that handed out 178 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

TUW also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at TUW are $9,000, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Psychology at Touro University Worldwide

#15

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

With a ranking of #15, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 45 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSUSB Psychology Report

#8 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also took the #8 spot in our “Best 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 University of California - San Diego are $28,631.

Full University of California - San Diego Psychology Report

#17

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

University of Southern California ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 115 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Psychology at University of Southern California

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 9 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #21. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700.

Read full report on Psychology at UC Davis

With a ranking of #19, 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 $0-$30k list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo are $21,009, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#20

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#24 in overall quality

San Jose State University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Jose State Psychology Report

California State University - San Marcos came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSUSM is a fairly large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 10 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Marcos are $18,661, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSUSM Psychology Report

#22

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#23 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCSB is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 11 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best 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 UCSB are $28,670.

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

California State University - Sacramento came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 12 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 Sac State are $18,356.

Full Sac State Psychology Report

With a ranking of #24, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school handed out 12 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 Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377.

Read more about Psychology at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

#25

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #25, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 44 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Psychology at San Francisco State University

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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