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2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $30-$48k) in California

21 Ranked Colleges
1,883 Degrees Awarded
$11,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 16,897 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 49th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 1,883 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 21 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public administration. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public administration programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the public administration 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.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 21 Best Value Colleges for Public Administration (Income $30-$48k) in California

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Bakersfield. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large public school situated in Bakersfield, California. It awarded 53 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

CSUB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list. It costs about $6,046 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Bakersfield.

Read full report on Public Administration at California State University - Bakersfield

2

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Northridge landed the #2 spot on the list. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 309 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $7,103 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUN Public Administration Report

3

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k list, Fresno State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,655 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Fresno.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at Fresno State

4

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 Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 129 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUDH, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,329 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSUDH.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSUDH

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 131 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

CSULB also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $7,573 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSULB

6

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 39 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list. It costs about $2,701 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Public Administration Report

7

California State University - Fullerton came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 66 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal State Fullerton also took the #8 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $5,821 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full California State University - Fullerton Public Administration Report

8

With a ranking of #8, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSUSB is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 81 ’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

CSUSB also took the #18 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSUSB is $6,613 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSUSB

9
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 172 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

SDSU also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend SDSU is $9,274 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full San Diego State University Public Administration Report

10

California State University - Stanislaus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

Stan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $4,903 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Stanislaus

11
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 164 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Southern California is $17,345 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Administration at USC

12

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 26 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Sac State also took the #20 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $9,055 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Sacramento Public Administration Report

13

California State University - East Bay came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 66 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal State East Bay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list. It costs about $11,025 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State East Bay.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at Cal State East Bay

13

University of California - Riverside ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UCR also took the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Riverside is $8,193 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of California - Riverside

15
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 16 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

San Jose State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $13,378 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at San Jose State

16

California State University - Chico ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Chico is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Chico State is $13,040 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Chico State Public Administration Report

17
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.

SFSU also made our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for San Francisco State University is $11,862 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at San Francisco State University

18
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

California Baptist University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cal Baptist is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 53 ’s public admin degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal Baptist also took the #6 spot in our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal Baptist is $22,162 for california public admin students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal Baptist Public Administration Report

19
20
ULV crest
University of La Verne
La Verne, California

University of La Verne did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in La Verne, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 54 diplomas to qualified ’s public admin students in 2020-2021.

ULV not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list. It costs about $29,675 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend ULV.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Administration at ULV

21
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Admin Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public admin degrees to 80 students in 2020-2021.

USFCA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Administration Schools in California” list. It costs about $31,994 for California Public Admin students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of San Francisco.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Administration at USFCA

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References

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