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2022 Best Value Political Science 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 Political Science Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Political Science & Government is the 21st most popular major in the country with 48,597 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,977 and had an average of $22,822 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 7,986 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,047 and $19,395 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 137 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Political Science 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 and government. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great political science and government programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the political science and government program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Political Science & Government Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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

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

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (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 Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 11 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Stanford University

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 25 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government 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 UCLA are $28,131.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of California - Los Angeles

#16 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Political Science 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 #3 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 10 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Cal State LA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Political Science & Government 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 Cal State LA are $17,723.

Read more about Political Science & Government at California State University - Los Angeles

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Political Science & Government 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 Irvine are $28,456.

Read more about Political Science & Government at UC Irvine

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of California - Berkeley

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 7 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Full Cal State Fullerton Political Science & Government Report

#13 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUN, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at California State University - Northridge

#3 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

UCSD also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - San Diego Political Science & Government Report

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at CSULB

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. University of California - Riverside is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 7 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #8 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government 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 UCR are $28,686.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of California - Riverside

#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 Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 12 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, SDSU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government 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.

Full San Diego State University Political Science & Government Report

#12

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #5 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Political Science & Government Report

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also took the #0 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government 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 Political Science & Government at University of California - Davis

#12 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Sac State

#15

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

SFSU also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government 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 Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. 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.

Read more about Political Science & Government at UC Santa Cruz

#17 in overall quality

University of California - Merced ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Merced, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Merced has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Merced are $43,854, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Merced Political Science & Government Report

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Chico landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chico State is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students whose families make $30-$48k list, Chico State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Chico State

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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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