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2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

23 Ranked Colleges
457 Degrees Awarded
$26,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 48,831 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 9,937 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $47,367 and $16,994 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 457 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great economics programs and 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 23 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Stanford Economics Report

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 68 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Economics 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 UCLA are $28,131.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Economics Report

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Berkeley Economics Report

#20 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #4 spot on the list. California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Cal State LA also took the #20 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cal State LA Economics Report

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Irvine Economics Report

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 10 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #14 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at Cal State Fullerton

#7

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 16 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCSB Economics Report

#6 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also took the #6 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at UCSD

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 8 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, CSULB has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Economics 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 California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Full CSULB Economics Report

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#13 in overall quality

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, SDSU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at SDSU

#8 in overall quality

University of California - Davis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 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 Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at UC Davis

#12

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California

University of California - Riverside landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at University of California - Riverside

#13

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 80 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Economics 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 Southern California are $48,715.

Read full report on Economics at University of Southern California

#12 in overall quality

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 9 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Economics 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 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $21,009.

Read full report on Economics at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

With a ranking of #15, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 2 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also took the #0 spot in our “Best Economics 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 California State University - Sacramento are $18,356.

Full Sac State Economics Report

#16

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Economics 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 UC Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Economics Report

#19 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at Cal State East Bay

#18

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#17 in overall quality

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 12 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790.

Read full report on Economics at San Jose State University

#19

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#18 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

SFSU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at San Francisco State University

#21 in overall quality

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 8 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly Pomona, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal Poly Pomona Economics Report

#21

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, California
#16 in overall quality

California Lutheran University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Thousand Oaks, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CLU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Lutheran University are $20,600, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CLU Economics Report

#22

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

USFCA also took the #5 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at University of San Francisco

#23

Chapman University

Orange, California

Chapman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Chapman is located in Orange, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chapman, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman University are $35,105, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Chapman University Economics Report

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 pixabay.

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