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2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

36 Ranked Colleges
1,902 Degrees Awarded
$25,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 205,726 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, social sciences is the 5th most popular major in the United States. 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 $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 36 colleges that offer a degree in social sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $48-$75k) 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 Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stanford University is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 73 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Stanford

#2

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 $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 142 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UCLA also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of California - Los Angeles

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 22 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 10 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 CSUDH are $17,884.

Read more about Social Sciences at CSUDH

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 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 UC Irvine are $28,456.

Full University of California - Irvine Social Sciences Report

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 68 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

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.

Read more about Social Sciences at Cal State LA

#10 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 140 students in 2019-2020.

UCSD also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCSD Social Sciences Report

#22 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school awarded 47 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 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 California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Social Sciences at Cal State Fullerton

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 31 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 CSUN

California State University - Fresno ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Fresno State Social Sciences Report

#16 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 58 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSULB Social Sciences Report

#12

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school awarded 46 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students 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 University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at UCSB

#13

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of California - Riverside is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 17 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 more about Social Sciences at University of California - Riverside

#9 in overall quality

University of California - Davis landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UC Davis also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at UC Davis

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

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 more about Social Sciences at Sac State

#16

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#15 in overall quality

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 96 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’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.

Full San Diego State University Social Sciences Report

#17

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 149 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

USC also took 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Southern California Social Sciences Report

#18

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. California State University - San Bernardino is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 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 California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936.

Read more about Social Sciences at CSUSB

#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 $48-$75k ranking. California State University - San Marcos is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 10 masters’s social sciences degrees 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.

Read more about Social Sciences at California State University - San Marcos

#19 in overall quality

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo are $21,009, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

University of California - Merced did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. University of California - Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 11 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 UC Merced are $43,854.

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

#22

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at San Jose State

#23

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at UC Santa Cruz

With a ranking of #24, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cal Poly Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 8 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly Pomona, the school also landed the #0 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 Pomona are $18,377.

Read more about Social Sciences at Cal Poly Pomona

#23 in overall quality

California State University - Chico ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Chico is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 24 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State also took the #23 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at California State University - Chico

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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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