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2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California

35 Ranked Colleges
5,351 Degrees Awarded
$18,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service 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 has developed its “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Public Administration & Social Service is the 14th most popular major in the country with 97,666 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, public administration and social service graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $39,142 and had an average of $32,304 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 9,336 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,497 and $34,561 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,351 public administration and social service graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking analyzed 35 colleges that offered a degree in public administration and social service. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public administration and social service programs that also have a lower cost than 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 and social service program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California.

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

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 35 schools in the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 355 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public administration & social service students list, CSULB has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSULB Public Administration & Social Service Report

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. CSUN is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 410 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUN, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at California State University - Northridge

#14 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 Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 69 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at California State University - Fresno

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. University of California - Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 217 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree public administration & social service students list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at UC Berkeley

#5

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 137 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #4 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service 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 UCLA are $28,131.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Public Administration & Social Service Report

#6

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 174 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at San Diego State University

#20 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - San Bernardino is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 187 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

CSUSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service 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 - San Bernardino are $17,936.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at CSUSB

#8

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#10 in overall quality

San Jose State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 184 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at San Jose State University

#13 in overall quality

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 198 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. 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.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Public Administration & Social Service Report

#10

Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

Golden Gate University - San Francisco landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 37 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Golden Gate University - San Francisco not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Golden Gate University - San Francisco are $19,705, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Golden Gate University - San Francisco Public Administration & Social Service Report

#19 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Hayward, California, this fairly large public school handed out 159 diplomas to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Cal State East Bay

#12

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#15 in overall quality

Azusa Pacific University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Azusa Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution located in Azusa, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 78 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Azusa Pacific, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific University are $16,571, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Azusa Pacific University Public Administration & Social Service Report

California State University - Monterey Bay ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Seaside, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 42 degrees to qualified masters’s public administration and social service students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Monterey Bay are $18,081, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSUMB Public Administration & Social Service Report

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Chico is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 48 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at Chico State

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 97 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Sac State Public Administration & Social Service Report

With a ranking of #16, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 174 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at California State University - Dominguez Hills

#17

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#21 in overall quality

California Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #17. California Baptist University is located in Riverside, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 118 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Cal Baptist also took the #21 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Baptist are $14,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal Baptist Public Administration & Social Service Report

#22 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 114 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service 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.

Full California State University - Fullerton Public Administration & Social Service Report

#19

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#25 in overall quality

San Francisco State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 53 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

SFSU also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at SFSU

#20

Brandman University

Irvine, California
#18 in overall quality

Brandman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #20. Brandman is a fairly large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 69 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Brandman, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brandman are $12,540, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Brandman

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 108 masters’s public administration and social service degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540.

Read full report on Public Administration & Social Service at Stan State

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #22. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 108 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUB are $18,437.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at CSUB

#16 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s public administration and social service degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Irvine Public Administration & Social Service Report

#25

National University

La Jolla, California
#12 in overall quality

National University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools for a Master’s in California list. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 96 masters’s public administration and social service degrees in 2019-2020.

National University also made our “Best Public Administration & Social Service Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at National University are $15,480.

Read more about Public Administration & Social Service at National University

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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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