Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Political Science & Government

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California

17 Ranked Colleges
137 Degrees Awarded
$26,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master's in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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” 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” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree in political science and government. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent political science and government programs, but they also 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” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California

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

Top 17 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in California

#1

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 25 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. 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 more about Political Science & Government at University of California - San Diego

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #3 spot on the list. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 3 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students list, UC Irvine has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#4

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students list, UCSB has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #5 spot on the list. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students list, CSULB has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government 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 more about Political Science & Government at California State University - Long Beach

#13 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. CSUN is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955.

Read more about Political Science & Government at CSUN

#7

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students list, SDSU has also earned the #7 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 San Diego State University are $18,658.

Full SDSU Political Science & Government Report

#8

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944.

Read more about Political Science & Government at San Francisco State University

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Chico came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Chico Political Science & Government Report

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. UCR 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 political science students 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 more about Political Science & Government at UCR

#12 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

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.

Full Sac State Political Science & Government Report

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California list. Cal State LA 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 also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#14

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California list. University of California - Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #9 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Merced, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

UC Merced did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Merced Political Science & Government Report

#16

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont, California
#6 in overall quality

Claremont Graduate University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Claremont Graduate University is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 3 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Claremont Graduate University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Claremont Graduate University are $36,380, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Claremont Graduate University Political Science & Government Report

#17

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Stanford University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California list. Stanford University is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 11 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stanford Political Science & Government Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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

Featured Political and Social Sciences Schools

Find Schools Near You