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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in California (With Aid)

24 Ranked Colleges
3,290 Degrees Awarded
$20,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

Social Work is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 8th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 56,762 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across California, there were 4,945 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,290 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree in social work. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social work programs, but they also 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 the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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)

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 174 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 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 California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

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

#20 in overall quality

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. Located in Carson, California, this fairly large public school handed out 99 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

CSUDH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 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 California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884.

Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Social Work Report

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #3 spot on the 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.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree social work students with aid list, Fresno State has also earned the #11 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 - Fresno are $17,581.

Full California State University - Fresno Social Work Report

#21 in overall quality

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. Stan State is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 89 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Stan State also took the #21 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Stanislaus are $18,540, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#5 in overall quality

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. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 230 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. 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.

Full CSULB Social Work Report

#16 in overall quality

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. California State University - 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 also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Cal State Fullerton

#17 in overall quality

California State University - Northridge 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 #7. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 184 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Social Work at CSUN

#8

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#9 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 99 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read full report on Social Work at CSUSB

#23 in overall quality

California State University - Bakersfield landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bakersfield, California, and it awarded 70 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUB also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUB are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#11

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 91 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 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 - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Social Work at UC Berkeley

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 78 students in 2019-2020.

Sac State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Social Work 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.

Read more about Social Work at Sac State

#13

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#6 in overall quality

San Jose 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 #13. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 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. 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 full report on Social Work at San Jose State

#14

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 126 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at SDSU

#8 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school situated in Hayward, California. It awarded 75 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay also took the #8 spot in our “Best Social Work 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 more about Social Work at Cal State East Bay

#19 in overall quality

California State University - Monterey Bay 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 #16. CSUMB is a medium-sized school located in Seaside, California that handed out 42 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree social work students with aid list, CSUMB has also earned the #19 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 CSUMB are $18,081.

Read more about Social Work at CSUMB

#17

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

San Francisco State University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Francisco State University is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 12 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree social work students with aid list, SFSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at San Francisco State University

#24 in overall quality

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. California State University - San Marcos is a fairly large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 61 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSM, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Marcos are $18,661, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Chico landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.

Chico State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 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 California State University - Chico are $18,802.

Full Chico State Social Work Report

#20

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California
#22 in overall quality

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

Humboldt State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Social Work 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 more about Social Work at Humboldt State University

#21

Brandman University

Irvine, California
#13 in overall quality

Brandman University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Brandman is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 28 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Brandman also took the #13 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 Brandman University are $12,540.

Read more about Social Work at Brandman University

#22

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#18 in overall quality

California Baptist University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 88 students in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal Baptist Social Work Report

#23

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

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. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 1,200 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

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.

Read more about Social Work at University of Southern California

#24

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Azusa Pacific University is a medium-sized school located in Azusa, California that handed out 78 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Azusa Pacific, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Social Work 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.

Read more about Social Work at Azusa Pacific 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.

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