2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in California
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Master’s in California” 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 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” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in social sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social sciences programs that also have a lower cost than 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.
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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” list to help you make the college decision.
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
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in California
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences 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. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 142 masters’s degrees 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. 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 University of California - Irvine are $28,456.
Read more about Social Sciences at University of California - Irvine
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 58 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full California State University - Long Beach Social Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955.
Read full report on Social Sciences at California State University - Northridge
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. UCSB is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 46 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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.
University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #6. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 140 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
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
University of California - Berkeley landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 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 UC 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
California State University - Fresno ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Social Sciences at California State University - Fresno
University of California - Davis landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This large school is located in Davis, California, and 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 University of California - Davis are $28,700.
Read full report on Social Sciences at University of California - Davis
With a ranking of #11, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. Chico State is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
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.
Full California State University - Chico Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #12, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - San Marcos is a fairly large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 10 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
CSUSM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSM are $18,661, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #13, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Azusa, California, and it awarded 62 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Azusa Pacific, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific are $16,571, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - Fullerton landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. 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 Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #15. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 96 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 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 SDSU are $18,658.
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 9 masters’s social sciences degrees 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. 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.
Read full report on Social Sciences at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #17. Riverside, 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.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed 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 some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Social Sciences at University of California - Riverside
California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #18. CSUDH is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 10 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Sacramento landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 17 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Social Sciences at California State University - Sacramento
With a ranking of #20, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #21, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. 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 University are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Social Sciences at San Jose State University
With a ranking of #22, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. Humboldt State University is located in Arcata, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 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 Humboldt State University are $18,802.
Read more about Social Sciences at Humboldt State University
California State University - Los Angeles ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 68 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
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 more about Social Sciences at California State University - Los Angeles
California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #24. 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full California State University - East Bay Social Sciences Report
University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 41 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree social sciences students list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #17 rank 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.
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in the Far Western US Region
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to AndrГ© KГјnzelmann.
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