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2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

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 Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Getting Aid” 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the political science and government program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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 Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in California (With Aid)

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 10 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Political Science & Government Report

#2

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 #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. 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 & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.

Full Stanford University Political Science & Government Report

#3

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 #3 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCLA Political Science & Government Report

#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Northridge. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students with aid list, CSUN has also earned the #13 rank 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#14 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students with aid list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #14 rank 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.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Cal State Fullerton

#4 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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 & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Irvine Political Science & Government Report

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCSD is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 9 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UCSD

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 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 CSULB are $17,784.

Full California State University - Long Beach Political Science & Government Report

#8 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCR is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 7 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students with aid list, UCR has also earned the #8 rank 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 full report on Political Science & Government at University of California - Riverside

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #7 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 SDSU are $18,658.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at San Diego State University

#12 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also took 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

#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 Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 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 UCSB are $28,670.

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

#13

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 1 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UC Berkeley

With a ranking of #14, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 2 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #0. 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

#15

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

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.

Full SFSU Political Science & Government Report

#17 in overall quality

University of California - Merced ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Merced, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced also took the #17 spot 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Chico State is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students with aid 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#18

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#9 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 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 University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UC Santa Cruz

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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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