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2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California

19 Ranked Colleges
164 Degrees Awarded
$26,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master's in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Sociology is the 20th most popular major in the country with 37,747 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 14,493 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 164 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in sociology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great sociology 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 sociology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Sociology Schools

The sociology 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 Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California.

Top 19 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Sociology in California

#1

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Sociology 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. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Sociology 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 full report on Sociology at UCLA

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Northridge. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 11 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSUN Sociology Report

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #3 spot on the list. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s sociology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Irvine Sociology Report

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #4 spot on the list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s sociology degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 Sociology at UC Berkeley

#5

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670.

Read full report on Sociology at UCSB

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Sociology at Cal State Fullerton

#7 in overall quality

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #8. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 2 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Sociology at University of California - Davis

#9

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#8 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s sociology degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Sociology 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 SDSU Sociology Report

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology 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 sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUSM also took the #16 spot in our “Best Sociology 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 CSUSM are $18,661.

Read more about Sociology at California State University - San Marcos

#11

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#11 in overall quality

San Jose State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. 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 more about Sociology at San Jose State University

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Sociology 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 - Sacramento are $18,356.

Read more about Sociology at California State University - Sacramento

#18 in overall quality

California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 10 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUDH also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #18. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884.

Full CSUDH Sociology Report

#17 in overall quality

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 12 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Sociology Report

#15

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#12 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #15. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 2 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Sociology at UCR

#16

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California
#19 in overall quality

Humboldt State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Sociology 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 6 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

Humboldt State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Humboldt State University are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Sociology at Humboldt State University

#14 in overall quality

University of California - Merced did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #17. UC Merced is located in Merced, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

UC Merced also took the #14 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Sociology at UC Merced

#18

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California list. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Southern California Sociology Report

#19

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Stanford University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Sociology 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 Stanford are $55,011.

Read more about Sociology at Stanford University

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 Kontos.

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