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

18 Ranked Colleges
497 Degrees Awarded
$8,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Geography is the 144th most popular major in the country with 5,476 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 854 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 497 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in geography. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geography programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geography program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The geography 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 Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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. 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 Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#1 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 #1 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 85 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Los Angeles is $9,254 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 University of California - Los Angeles Geography Report

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 14 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cal State LA has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,117 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.

The low 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%.

Read more about Geography at California State University - Los Angeles

#3

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend UCSB is $11,895 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Geography at University of California - Santa Barbara

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 37 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $6,100 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, 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 Cal State Fullerton Geography Report

#3 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 Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $7,595 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geography at CSULB

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Fresno ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Fresno is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fresno is $3,731 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, 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 Fresno State Geography Report

#8 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 33 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $6,883 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography at California State University - Northridge

#16 in overall quality

California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Turlock, California, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Stan State also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $3,958 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Stanislaus.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography at California State University - Stanislaus

#9

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#4 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $10,594 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full San Diego State University Geography Report

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school handed out 46 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

Sac State also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $7,823 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Sac State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography at California State University - Sacramento

#11

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#17 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. CSUSB is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 12 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUSB also took the #17 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Bernardino is $5,869 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geography at California State University - San Bernardino

#12

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’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 bachelors’s geography degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Francisco State University is $12,517 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full San Francisco State University Geography Report

#5 in overall quality

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Cal Poly Pomona also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $9,630 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Geography Report

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large public school situated in Hayward, California. It awarded 4 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay also took the #15 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - East Bay is $8,891 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Geography at California State University - East Bay

#15

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#9 in overall quality

San Jose State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 8 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, San Jose State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State University is $11,752 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full San Jose State Geography Report

#12 in overall quality

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chico State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Chico is $11,576 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography at Chico State

#17

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California
#10 in overall quality

Sonoma State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. SSU is located in Rohnert Park, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SSU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SSU is $13,248 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Sonoma State University Geography Report

#18

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California
#18 in overall quality

Humboldt State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Arcata, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

Humboldt State University also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Humboldt State University is $12,775 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Geography at Humboldt State University

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 Couleur.

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