2023 Best Value Colleges for Economics (Income $30-$48k) in California
49
Ranked Colleges
10,520
Degrees Awarded
$8,600
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 49,055 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. 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 $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 49 colleges that offered a degree in economics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent economics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Economics Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Economics (Income $30-$48k) in California
Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
Stanford also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Stanford University is $1,581 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
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 $30-$48k 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 also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Claremont McKenna College is $8,693 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.
Read more about 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 $30-$48k list. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 808 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC Berkeley is $9,999 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 full report on Economics at UC Berkeley
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and 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 $9,891 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 $30-$48k. This small school is located in Claremont, California, and it awarded 46 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Pomona has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pomona College is $6,239 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Economics at Pomona
University of California - San Diego came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - San Diego is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 480 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $11,176 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at UCSD
University of California - Irvine ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 490 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,449 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Irvine.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Economics at UC Irvine
University of California - Davis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 661 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. It costs about $11,598 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Davis.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about Economics at University of California - Davis
With a ranking of #9, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 723 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Barbara is $11,606 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, 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 91%.
Read more about Economics at UCSB
Pitzer College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Pitzer College is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
Pitzer also took the #15 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pitzer is $17,181 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at Pitzer College
University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. University of California - Riverside is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 375 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $8,193 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UCR.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full UCR Economics Report
California State University - Fresno landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k 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 yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $4,655 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full California State University - Fresno Economics Report
California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. 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.
It costs about $2,701 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 full report on Economics at Cal State LA
California State University - Fullerton ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 80 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $5,821 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at Cal State Fullerton
University of Southern California came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools 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 357 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, USC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $17,345 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k 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. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Economics at USC
Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in Santa Rosa, California, and it awarded 21 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,800 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Santa Rosa Junior College.
Read more about Economics at Santa Rosa Junior College
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 214 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Sac State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $9,055 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 full report on Economics at Sac State
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 259 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend SDSU is $9,274 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national 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 full report on Economics at SDSU
University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 219 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz also took the #13 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Cruz is $12,049 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at UC Santa Cruz
California State University - Stanislaus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $4,903 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Economics at Stan State
California State University - Long Beach ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 84 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $7,573 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Economics at CSULB
California State University - Northridge ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSUN is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 95 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $7,103 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Northridge.
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%.
Full CSUN Economics Report
California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. California State University - Bakersfield is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUB is $6,046 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full California State University - Bakersfield Economics Report
California State University - East Bay came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Hayward, California, this fairly large public school awarded 46 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - East Bay is $11,025 for california economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at Cal State East Bay
California State University - San Bernardino landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Bernardino is $6,613 for California Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Economics at California State University - San Bernardino
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