by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 68 schools across California to determine which have the best value Master's Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $48-$75k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best value (income $48-$75k) school for master’s degrees in California in this year’s ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Stanford, California.
Not only is Stanford University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in California for overall quality.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. Located in Pasadena, California, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Read full value report on California Institute of Technology
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school located in Los Angeles, California.
University of California - Los Angeles has the honor of being ranked #5 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Learn More About Value at University of California - Los Angeles
The quality degree programs at University of California - Berkeley helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California. This large public school is located in Berkeley, California.
Not only is University of California - Berkeley a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in California for overall quality.
Out of the 68 master’s degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the #5 spot on the list. This large public school is located in San Diego, California.
San Diego State University has the honor of being ranked #32 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
University of California - Irvine landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. UC Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California.
Not only is University of California - Irvine a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in California for overall quality.
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California State University - Los Angeles is ranked #56 for quality in the state of California.
Read full value report on California State University - Los Angeles
With a ranking of #8, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school located in San Bernardino, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California State University - San Bernardino is ranked #62 for quality in the state of California.
Full California State University - San Bernardino Value Report
University of California - San Diego ranked #9 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. Located in La Jolla, California, the school is a large public institution.
University of California - San Diego has the honor of being ranked #7 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Learn More About Value at University of California - San Diego
University of Southern California landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Los Angeles, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Southern California is ranked #2 for quality in the state of California.
With a ranking of #11, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
California State University - Fullerton has the honor of being ranked #54 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Fullerton
National University landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. National University is located in La Jolla, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is National University a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in California for overall quality.
California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #13 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
California State University - Dominguez Hills has the honor of being ranked #65 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Read full value report on California State University - Dominguez Hills
California State University - Long Beach came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is California State University - Long Beach a great value, but it is also ranked #38 in California for overall quality.
Read full value report on California State University - Long Beach
With a ranking of #15, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California.
California State University - Fresno has the honor of being ranked #55 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Read full value report on California State University - Fresno
With a ranking of #16, California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. CSUMB is a medium-sized public school situated in Seaside, California.
California State University - Monterey Bay has the honor of being ranked #71 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Full California State University - Monterey Bay Value Report
California State University - Sacramento came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is California State University - Sacramento a great value, but it is also ranked #52 in California for overall quality.
Read full value report on California State University - Sacramento
University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California.
University of California - Santa Barbara has the honor of being ranked #11 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Read full value report on University of California - Santa Barbara
University of California - Davis ranked #19 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. Located in Davis, California, the school is a large public institution.
University of California - Davis has the honor of being ranked #13 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
California State University - Northridge ranked #20 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. This large public school is located in Northridge, California.
California State University - Northridge has the honor of being ranked #45 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
With a ranking of #21, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. Located in Bakersfield, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is California State University - Bakersfield a great value, but it is also ranked #63 in California for overall quality.
Read full value report on California State University - Bakersfield
University of Redlands landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. University of Redlands is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Redlands, California.
University of Redlands has the honor of being ranked #16 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
With a ranking of #23, Fresno Pacific University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California list. Fresno Pacific is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fresno, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fresno Pacific University is ranked #43 for quality in the state of California.
California State University - Stanislaus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
California State University - Stanislaus has the honor of being ranked #72 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Sonoma State University landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in California ranking. Located in Rohnert Park, California, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Sonoma State University is ranked #77 for quality in the state of California.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
