2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
49
Ranked Colleges
10,520
Degrees Awarded
$7,800
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Economics is the 19th most popular major in the country with 49,055 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,736 and had an average of $22,046 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 10,520 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,538 and $16,731 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 49 colleges that offered a degree in economics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality economics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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 Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” 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. 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 Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Economics (Income $0-$30k) in California
Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k 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 116 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
Stanford also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $1,233 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Stanford University.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Economics at Stanford University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Claremont McKenna College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Claremont McKenna is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Claremont, California. It awarded 116 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Claremont McKenna not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Claremont McKenna College is $5,387 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Economics at Claremont McKenna
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 808 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $8,450 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national 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 Economics at UC Berkeley
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 884 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Los Angeles is $9,037 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%.
Full UCLA Economics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pomona College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Pomona is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
Pomona also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $8,629 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pomona College.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Economics at Pomona College
University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 480 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSD has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $9,823 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at University of California - San Diego
University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 723 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSB has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,568 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCSB.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 University of California - Santa Barbara Economics Report
With a ranking of #8, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 490 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Irvine is $6,540 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at University of California - Irvine
University of California - Davis landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 661 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC Davis is $10,006 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of California - Davis Economics Report
University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 375 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
UCR also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $6,810 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCR.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Economics at University of California - Riverside
University of Southern California came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 357 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. It costs about $17,287 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USC.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full USC Economics Report
California State University - Fullerton ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 80 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,590 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
Read full report on Economics at California State University - Fullerton
California State University - Fresno came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Fresno is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fresno is $3,859 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at California State University - Fresno
San Diego State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 259 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $7,169 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, 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 Economics at San Diego State University
California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 31 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Los Angeles is $1,887 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at California State University - Los Angeles
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 219 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Cruz is $11,038 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad 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%.
Full UC Santa Cruz Economics Report
With a ranking of #17, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 214 students in 2020-2021.
Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $8,163 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at Sac State
With a ranking of #18, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 84 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $6,663 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read more about Economics at California State University - Long Beach
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Santa Rosa Junior College is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Rosa, California. It awarded 21 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Santa Rosa Junior College is $5,728 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full SRJC Economics Report
California State University - Northridge came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $6,266 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 full report on Economics at CSUN
California State University - Stanislaus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Turlock, California, this fairly large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Stanislaus is $4,122 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Stanislaus Economics Report
California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State East Bay is $9,975 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 East Bay Economics Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school awarded 110 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $12,173 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Economics Report
California State University - San Bernardino landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSUSB is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 26 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUSB is $5,985 for California Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at CSUSB
Occidental College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 51 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
Oxy also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $14,452 for california economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Occidental College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Occidental College Economics Report
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