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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in California

12 Ranked Colleges
473 Degrees Awarded
$33,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 205,726 social sciences students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 50,479 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,934 and $19,309 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 473 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 12 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (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 Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 48 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’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.

Read more about Social Sciences at Stanford

#5 in overall quality

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 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social sciences degrees to 65 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. 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 more about Social Sciences at University of California - Berkeley

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 69 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of California - Los Angeles

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 41 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’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 Social Sciences at University of California - Irvine

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCSD has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’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 UCSD are $28,631.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of California - San Diego

#6

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social sciences degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCSB has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’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 Social Sciences Report

#7 in overall quality

University of California - Davis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 51 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of California - Davis

#10 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 doctorate’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UCR also made our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UCR

#9

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#10 in overall quality

San Diego State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, SDSU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’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.

Read full report on Social Sciences at San Diego State University

#10

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’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 Southern California are $48,715.

Read full report on Social Sciences at USC

#11

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#11 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 13 doctorate’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’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 Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of California - Santa Cruz

#13 in overall quality

University of California - Merced came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Social Sciences Doctor’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 Merced are $43,854.

Full University of California - Merced Social Sciences 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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