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2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

24 Ranked Colleges
3,294 Degrees Awarded
$20,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Social Work is the 12th most popular major in the country with 57,618 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,459 and had an average of $30,084 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 4,949 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,770 and $31,817 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,294 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in social work. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social work 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 social work program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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 Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree social work students with aid.

Top 24 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in California (With Aid)

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 174 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Social Work 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.

Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Los Angeles

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. CSUDH is a public institution located in Carson, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 99 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUDH also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. 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.

Read more about Social Work at CSUDH

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 49 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Fresno Social Work Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Stanislaus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 89 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stan State, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at California State University - Stanislaus

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 230 students in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Social Work 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 CSULB are $17,784.

Full CSULB Social Work Report

California State University - Fullerton ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 93 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Social Work 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 Fullerton are $17,892.

Full California State University - Fullerton Social Work Report

California State University - Northridge ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 184 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN also took the #17 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Northridge

#8

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 79 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Social Work 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 - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Read full report on Social Work at University of California - Los Angeles

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 103 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUSB also took the #9 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - San Bernardino Social Work Report

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 70 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUB, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSUB Social Work Report

#11

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#2 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 91 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Social Work 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 Social Work at University of California - Berkeley

California State University - Sacramento landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 78 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree social work students with aid list, Sac State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Social Work 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 - Sacramento are $18,356.

Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Sacramento

#13

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 156 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Social Work 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 San Jose State University are $18,790.

Full San Jose State University Social Work Report

#14

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 126 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree social work students with aid list, SDSU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Social Work 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 SDSU are $18,658.

Full San Diego State University Social Work Report

California State University - East Bay ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 75 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at California State University - East Bay

California State University - Monterey Bay ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Monterey Bay is a medium-sized school located in Seaside, California that handed out 42 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUMB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Social Work 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 CSUMB are $18,081.

Read full report on Social Work at CSUMB

#17

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Social Work 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 San Francisco State University are $17,944.

Full SFSU Social Work Report

California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. CSUSM is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 61 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree social work students with aid list, CSUSM has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Social Work 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 - San Marcos are $18,661.

Read full report on Social Work at California State University - San Marcos

With a ranking of #19, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Chico, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree social work students with aid list, Chico State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Chico Social Work Report

#20

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California

Humboldt State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Arcata, California, and it awarded 48 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree social work students with aid list, Humboldt State University has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Humboldt State University are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at Humboldt State University

#21

Brandman University

Irvine, California
#13 in overall quality

Brandman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Irvine, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 28 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Brandman, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brandman University are $12,540, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Brandman University

#22

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, California Baptist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal Baptist is a fairly large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 88 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist also took the #18 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at California Baptist University

#23

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,200 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work 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 University of Southern California are $48,715.

Full University of Southern California Social Work Report

#24

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California

Azusa Pacific University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Azusa Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Azusa, California. It awarded 78 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Azusa Pacific did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific are $16,571, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Azusa Pacific

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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