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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration in California

25 Ranked Colleges
1,497 Degrees Awarded
$20,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master's in California

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 17,269 people earned their degree in public administration, making the major the 58th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, public administration graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $48,859 and had an average of $42,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,888 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,265 and $36,406 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,497 public administration graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking analyzed 25 colleges that offered a degree in public administration. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public administration programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public administration program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Public Administration Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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 Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree public admin students.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Public Administration in California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Northridge. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 226 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at CSUN

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 125 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students list, CSULB has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Administration 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 California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSULB

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Fresno is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Public Administration at Fresno State

#4

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Baptist University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. California Baptist University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 30 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140.

Read more about Public Administration at California Baptist University

#5

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the #5 spot on the list. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 46 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SDSU Public Administration Report

California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. CSUDH is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 75 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUDH, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Public Administration 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 CSUDH are $17,884.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSUDH

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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 more about Public Administration at California State University - Fullerton

#8

Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco, California

Golden Gate University - San Francisco came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Golden Gate University - San Francisco is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 37 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Golden Gate University - San Francisco did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Public Administration 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 Golden Gate University - San Francisco are $19,705.

Read more about Public Administration at Golden Gate University - San Francisco

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #9. California State University - Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

CSUB also took the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration 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 CSUB are $18,437.

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

#10

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. CSUSB is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 84 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSB, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration at CSUSB

#11

Brandman University

Irvine, California

With a ranking of #11, Brandman University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. This fairly large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 41 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Brandman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brandman University are $12,540, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Brandman Public Administration Report

With a ranking of #12, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 84 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Public Administration 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 State East Bay are $17,828.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - East Bay

#13

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #13. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 41 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFSU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at SFSU

#15

National University

La Jolla, California

National University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #15. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 96 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

National University also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at National University

#16

University of La Verne

La Verne, California

University of La Verne did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #16. University of La Verne is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in La Verne, California. It awarded 26 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students list, ULV has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at ULV are $14,526, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration at ULV

#17

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public admin degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at San Jose State University

California State University - Sacramento ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 19 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Sac State Public Administration Report

California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #19. California State University - Stanislaus is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

Stan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Public Administration 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 - Stanislaus are $18,540.

Read more about Public Administration at Stan State

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 24 masters’s public admin degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also took the #22 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at California State University - Los Angeles

#21

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 62 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USFCA also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Administration 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 USFCA are $26,710.

Read full report on Public Administration at University of San Francisco

#22

Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, California

Notre Dame de Namur University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Belmont, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public admin students list, NDNU has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NDNU are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Notre Dame de Namur University Public Administration Report

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s public admin students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona also took the #25 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are $18,377, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

With a ranking of #24, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California list. Middlebury Institute is located in Monterey, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Middlebury Institute, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Middlebury Institute are $42,804, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Public Administration Report

#25

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Admin Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 175 masters’s public admin degrees to qualified students.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Public Administration 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 Southern California are $48,715.

Read full report on Public Administration at USC

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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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