2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k
49
Ranked Colleges
10,520
Degrees Awarded
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 $48-$75k” 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.
For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 49 colleges that offer 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Economics Schools
The economics 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 Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Economics (Income $48-$75k) in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stanford University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 116 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford is $7,081 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%. 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.
Full Stanford Economics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 808 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $13,423 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Economics at UC Berkeley
Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 884 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCLA has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,644 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. 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 University of California - Los Angeles Economics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pomona College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k. Pomona is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pomona, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pomona is $9,365 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Economics at Pomona
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k. University of California - Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 661 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $14,193 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Economics at University of California - Davis
With a ranking of #6, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 490 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Irvine is $13,275 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, 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 94%.
Read more about Economics at University of California - Irvine
University of California - San Diego came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k 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.
In addition to being on our california economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCSD has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,310 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UCSD.
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%.
Full University of California - San Diego Economics Report
University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 723 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
UCSB also took the #6 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Barbara is $14,583 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.
Full UCSB Economics Report
With a ranking of #9, Claremont McKenna College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Claremont McKenna is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Claremont McKenna has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Claremont McKenna is $15,962 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 full report on Economics at Claremont McKenna College
University of California - Riverside came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 375 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for UCR is $11,126 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, 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 91%.
Full University of California - Riverside Economics Report
California State University - Fresno landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 26 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $8,030 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, 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 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at Fresno State
University of Southern California ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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.
USC also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern California is $22,826 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Economics at University of Southern California
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,017 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at California State University - Fullerton
With a ranking of #14, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 31 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $5,700 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Full Cal State LA Economics Report
Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. Santa Rosa, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend SRJC is $8,738 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Economics at Santa Rosa Junior College
University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 219 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Cruz is $15,567 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, 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 85%.
Read full report on Economics at University of California - Santa Cruz
California State University - Sacramento landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 214 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State also made our “Best Economics Schools in California” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Sacramento is $12,602 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Read full report on Economics at California State University - Sacramento
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 $48-$75k list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $11,189 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at California State University - Long Beach
San Diego State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 259 students in 2020-2021.
SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $14,698 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full SDSU Economics Report
Pitzer College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Economics Schools in California” list. It costs about $17,630 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Pitzer College.
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. 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%.
Read more about Economics at Pitzer
California State University - Stanislaus landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Stanislaus is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $7,976 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Stan State Economics Report
California State University - Northridge ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 95 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,780 for california economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California State University - Northridge.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at California State University - Northridge
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 26 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,854 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend CSUSB.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 CSUSB Economics Report
With a ranking of #24, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cal State East Bay is located in Hayward, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $15,615 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Cal State East Bay.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at California State University - East Bay
California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Bakersfield, California, this fairly large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,102 for California Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend CSUB.
Read more about Economics at CSUB
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