Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Psychology

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid

68 Ranked Colleges
17,900 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 183,889 psychology students received their degree, making the major the 7th most popular in the country. 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 17,900 psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 68 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in psychology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality psychology 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 psychology program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Psychology Schools

The psychology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid”.

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. 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 Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Psychology in California (With Aid)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 68 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 52 degrees to qualified bachelors’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford is $11,496 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Stanford Psychology Report

Out of the 68 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #2 spot on the list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 499 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,215 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid per year to attend CSUDH.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Psychology at California State University - Dominguez Hills

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school awarded 723 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $7,991 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Cal State Fullerton Psychology Report

#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s psychology degrees to 503 students in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $9,622 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full CSULB Psychology Report

Out of the 68 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Northridge landed the #5 spot on the list. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 804 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Northridge is $8,414 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full CSUN Psychology Report

California State University - Fresno came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 456 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,464 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid per year to attend Fresno State.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Fresno State Psychology Report

California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 373 bachelors’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $6,019 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Psychology at California State University - Stanislaus

#4 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 275 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $15,329 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Psychology at University of California - Berkeley

#15 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 1,004 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid list, UC Irvine has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Irvine is $14,783 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Psychology at University of California - Irvine

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCR is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 600 bachelors’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,871 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid per year to attend UCR.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Psychology at University of California - Riverside

#11

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 1,020 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for UCLA is $14,279 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Psychology at UCLA

#12

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. CSUSB is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 687 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Bernardino is $7,342 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Psychology at California State University - San Bernardino

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 489 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $9,979 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Psychology at Sac State

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large public school situated in Bakersfield, California. It awarded 234 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,318 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid per year to attend California State University - Bakersfield.

Read more about Psychology at CSUB

#15

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#12 in overall quality

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 428 bachelors’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $14,928 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Psychology at San Jose State University

With a ranking of #16, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 345 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cal State East Bay is $11,116 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid.

Full California State University - East Bay Psychology Report

With a ranking of #17, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSUSM is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 307 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Marcos is $13,399 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Psychology at California State University - San Marcos

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 806 bachelors’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

UC Davis also made our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Davis is $14,669 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Psychology at UC Davis

#18 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 463 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid list, UCSD has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - San Diego is $14,232 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UCSD Psychology Report

#20

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 524 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,788 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid per year to attend SDSU.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Psychology at San Diego State University

#21

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 579 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #13 spot in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $15,884 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Psychology at UCSB

California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Seaside, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s psychology degrees to 242 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,212 for California Bachelor’s Degree Psychology students with aid per year to attend California State University - Monterey Bay.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Monterey Bay Psychology Report

#23

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 408 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SFSU is $15,113 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

Full San Francisco State University Psychology Report

#24

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 514 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Cruz is $18,186 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Psychology at UC Santa Cruz

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 269 bachelors’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $12,734 for california bachelor’s degree psychology students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Psychology at Cal Poly Pomona

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

Featured Psychology Schools

Find Schools Near You