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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in California

20 Ranked Colleges
163 Degrees Awarded
$32,400 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 49,282 people earned their degree in political science and government, making the major the 20th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,387 and had an average of $23,175 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 8,530 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,769 and $19,462 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 163 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $62,974 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in political science and government. That schools that top this list have a program in political science and government in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California”.

Top 20 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government in California

1
Claremont Graduate University crest
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, California

Out of the 20 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Claremont Graduate University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 full report on Political Science & Government at Claremont Graduate University

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 29 masters’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at UC Berkeley

3

Out of the 20 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Chico landed the #3 spot on the list. Chico State is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

4
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Out of the 20 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #4 spot on the list. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 7 masters’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Stanford

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 9 masters’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

6

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 10 masters’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

7
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full San Francisco State University Political Science & Government Report

8

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

9

California State University - Northridge ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. CSUN is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 12 masters’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

10

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

11

University of California - Riverside ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UCR

12

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Full Cal State Fullerton Political Science & Government Report

13

University of California - San Diego came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California ranking. 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 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UCSD Political Science & Government Report

14
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #14, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 7 masters’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full San Diego State University Political Science & Government Report

15

With a ranking of #15, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Political Science & Government at California State University - Long Beach

16

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California 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 3 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

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

17

University of California - Merced did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. UC Merced is located in Merced, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UC Merced

18

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California ranking, coming in at #18. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UC Irvine

19

University of California - Davis landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California ranking. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 2 masters’s political science degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Political Science & Government at UC Davis

20

With a ranking of #20, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Political Science Major in California list. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 54 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Fresno State Political Science & Government Report

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