Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Anthropology

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California

19 Ranked Colleges
160 Degrees Awarded
$26,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master's in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Anthropology is the 77th most popular major in the country with 12,008 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, anthropology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $24,661 and had an average of $23,289 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 2,956 anthropology graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,357 and $18,167 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 160 anthropology graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in anthropology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent anthropology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the anthropology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California

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

Top 19 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Anthropology in California

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Diego. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s anthropology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also made our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Anthropology at UCSD

#2

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 #2 for the Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #4 spot in our “Best Anthropology 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.

Full UCLA Anthropology Report

#3

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 11 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Anthropology at University of California - Santa Barbara

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 5 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUN, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Anthropology at California State University - Northridge

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 16 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSULB Anthropology Report

#3 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 8 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Berkeley Anthropology Report

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California list. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s anthropology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree anthropology students list, UC Irvine has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Irvine Anthropology Report

#11 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #8. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 11 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree anthropology students list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Anthropology at California State University - Fullerton

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #9. Chico State is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 9 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree anthropology students list, Chico State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Anthropology at Chico State

#8 in overall quality

University of California - Davis ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California list. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Anthropology 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.

Read full report on Anthropology at University of California - Davis

#11

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#10 in overall quality

San Jose State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s anthropology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Jose State University Anthropology Report

#12

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#9 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 6 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCR Anthropology Report

#13

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#17 in overall quality

San Francisco State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Anthropology 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 Anthropology at San Francisco State University

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 17 degrees to qualified masters’s anthropology students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Anthropology 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 Anthropology at Cal State LA

#15

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Arcata, California, and it awarded 13 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

Humboldt State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Humboldt State University are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Anthropology at Humboldt State University

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Anthropology at Sac State

#17

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#12 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #17. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Anthropology 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.

Full UC Santa Cruz Anthropology Report

#18

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #18. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full USC Anthropology Report

#19

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Stanford University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Anthropology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 10 masters’s anthropology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Anthropology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Anthropology at Stanford University

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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 Deror avi.

Featured Political and Social Sciences Schools

Find Schools Near You