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2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k

18 Ranked Colleges
497 Degrees Awarded
$16,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $75-$110k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 5,476 people earned their degree in geography, making the major the 144th most popular in the United States.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geography 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

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k” list to help you make the college decision.

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 Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $75-$110k) 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 $75-$110k. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 85 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $19,590 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UCLA.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. 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%.

Read more about Geography at UCLA

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Los Angeles is $9,576 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geography at California State University - Los Angeles

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 37 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,916 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, 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 Geography at Cal State Fullerton

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $14,544 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

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%. 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 Geography at California State University - Long Beach

#5

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #5 spot on the list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 19 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, UCSB has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Barbara is $22,226 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Geography at University of California - Santa Barbara

#16 in overall quality

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Stan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $12,381 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Stan State.

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%.

Full California State University - Stanislaus Geography Report

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Fresno ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $11,819 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

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.

Read more about Geography at Fresno State

#8 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #8. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 33 bachelors’s geography degrees 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 estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $15,346 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

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 more about Geography at California State University - Northridge

#6 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #9. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $15,812 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

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%.

Full California State University - Sacramento Geography Report

#10

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 $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. California State University - San Bernardino is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s 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 $13,611 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Geography at California State University - San Bernardino

#11

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#4 in overall quality

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students 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 estimated yearly cost for San Diego State University is $18,766 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 SDSU Geography Report

#5 in overall quality

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school handed out 27 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $17,944 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Cal Poly Pomona.

The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Geography at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

#13

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s geography degrees 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 yearly cost to attend San Francisco State University is $21,027 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Geography at SFSU

#14

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#9 in overall quality

San Jose State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, San Jose State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $19,805 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

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 University Geography Report

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - East Bay is $17,710 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Geography at Cal State East Bay

#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 $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, Chico State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Chico is $19,444 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

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%.

Full Chico State Geography Report

#17

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California
#10 in overall quality

Sonoma State University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Rohnert Park, California, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

SSU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SSU is $21,753 for california bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 more about Geography at Sonoma State University

#18

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 20 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Humboldt State University also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Humboldt State University is $20,170 for California Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on 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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