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

18 Ranked Colleges
137 Degrees Awarded
$26,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 46,740 people earned their degree in political science, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 7,602 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 137 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in political science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great political science programs and 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 political science program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Political Science Schools

The poly sci 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 Poly Sci Schools for a Master’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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also made our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at Stanford University

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci 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 poly sci degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science at University of California - Los Angeles

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Political Science Report

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #4 spot on the list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Political Science 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 UC Irvine are $28,456.

Full University of California - Irvine Political Science Report

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci 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 #5 spot on the list. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Berkeley Political Science Report

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 7 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 Political Science at California State University - Fullerton

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.

CSUN also made our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955.

Full CSUN Political Science Report

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSD is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 9 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD also took the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCSD Political Science Report

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #10 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science at CSULB

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCR has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Riverside Political Science Report

#11

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science at San Diego State University

#12

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’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 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #5 spot in our “Best Political Science 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 UCSB are $28,670.

Full UCSB Political Science Report

University of California - Davis ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci 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 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also took the #0 spot in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at UC Davis

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Sacramento Political Science Report

#15

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 8 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree poly sci students whose families make $30-$48k list, SFSU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science at SFSU

#16

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#9 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Santa Cruz Political Science Report

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced also made our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Merced are $43,854, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science at University of California - Merced

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Chico landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chico, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Political Science 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 Chico State are $18,802.

Full California State University - Chico Political Science Report

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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.

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