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

36 Ranked Colleges
1,902 Degrees Awarded
$25,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,902 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 36 colleges that offer a degree 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Social Sciences Schools

The social sciences school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 73 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Stanford University Social Sciences Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 22 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UC Berkeley

#3

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 142 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at UCLA

#6 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 Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 73 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 - Irvine are $28,456.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of California - Irvine

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #5 spot on the list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUDH are $17,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at California State University - Dominguez Hills

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 68 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal State LA Social Sciences Report

#22 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 47 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. 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 Social Sciences at California State University - Fullerton

#20 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. California State University - Northridge is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 31 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN also took the #20 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at California State University - Northridge

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 140 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 - San Diego are $28,631.

Full University of California - San Diego Social Sciences Report

With a ranking of #10, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581.

Read more about Social Sciences at Fresno State

#16 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 58 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Social Sciences 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 CSULB are $17,784.

Full CSULB Social Sciences Report

#12

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 46 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of California - Santa Barbara

#13

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#12 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #12 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCR Social Sciences Report

#14

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#15 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 96 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, SDSU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Diego State University Social Sciences Report

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 41 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 Davis are $28,700.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UC Davis

California State University - Sacramento landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at California State University - Sacramento

#17

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 149 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Southern California

#18

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936.

Full CSUSB Social Sciences Report

#24 in overall quality

California State University - San Marcos came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Marcos, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSM, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Marcos are $18,661, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSUSM Social Sciences Report

#19 in overall quality

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Social Sciences 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 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $21,009.

Full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Social Sciences Report

#21

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#25 in overall quality

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. San Jose State University is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at San Jose State University

With a ranking of #22, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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 UC Merced Social Sciences Report

#23

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Social Sciences 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.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Social Sciences Report

California State University - East Bay landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 14 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal State East Bay Social Sciences Report

#25

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 33 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944.

Read more about Social Sciences at San Francisco State University

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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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