2023 Best Value Teaching Schools in California
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for teaching students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Teaching Degree Search has created its Best Value Teaching Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 61 schools in California to see which programs offered the best value experiences for teaching students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Teaching Schools in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Concordia University, Irvine the best value school in California for teaching students working on their degree. Concordia University, Irvine is a small private not-for-profit school located in Irvine, California that handed out 528 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Concordia University, Irvine are $38,740 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $24,323 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $600. During the early years of their career, Concordia University, Irvine graduates make an average of $48,407 annually.
Concordia University, Irvine not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Teaching Schools in California list.
Out of the 61 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Sacramento landed the # 2 spot on the list. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 843 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Sac State are $19,272 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,924 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $172, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Sac State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,098 during the early years of their career.
Sac State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Teaching Schools in California list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Teaching Schools in California list. Located in Fullerton, California, the large public school handed out 982 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Cal State Fullerton are $18,856 a year. On average, students take out $17,931 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $191 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Cal State Fullerton graduates make an average of $47,875 annually.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means California State University - Northridge is a great place for teaching students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. California State University - Northridge is a large public school located in Northridge, California that handed out 713 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CSUN are $18,923 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,166 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, CSUN graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,924 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on California State University - Northridge
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means California State University - Long Beach is a great place for teaching students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 222 degrees in 2020-2021.
CSULB undergraduate students pay an average of $18,726 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $17,702 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, CSULB graduates make an average of $45,445 annually.
Read full report on California State University - Long Beach
California State University - San Bernardino landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. CSUSB is located in San Bernardino, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 225 degrees to qualified students.
CSUSB undergraduate students pay an average of $19,093 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,358 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $137 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, CSUSB graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,226 during the early year of their career.
San Jose State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in California list. San Jose State University is a large public school located in San Jose, California that handed out 574 degrees in 2020-2021.
San Jose State undergraduate students pay an average of $19,732 in tuition and fees each year. After graduating from San Jose State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,886 during the early years of their career.
California State University - Bakersfield came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in California ranking. CSUB is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 311 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CSUB are $19,459 per year. On average, students take out $15,944 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from CSUB, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,237 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on California State University - Bakersfield
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in California ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 829 degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State LA undergraduate students pay an average of $18,665 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,712 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Cal State LA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,734 during the early year of their career.
California State University - East Bay came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in California ranking. Located in Hayward, California, the fairly large public school handed out 301 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Cal State East Bay are $18,875 a year. On average, students take out $20,301 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $176 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Cal State East Bay graduates make an average of $52,422 annually.
California State University - Fresno did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #11 on the list. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 534 degrees to qualified students.
Fresno State undergraduate students pay an average of $18,533 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $17,360 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Fresno State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,058 during the early year of their career.
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 107 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UC Santa Cruz are $43,824 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,900 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $285 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UC Santa Cruz, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,777 during the early years of their career.
UC Santa Cruz did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Teaching Schools in California list.
San Francisco State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in California ranking. San Francisco State University is a large public school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 565 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SFSU are $19,184 per year. On average, students take out $19,529 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $196, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from SFSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,645 during the early years of their career.
California State University - San Marcos came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in California ranking. CSUSM is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 221 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CSUSM are $19,607 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,457 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $189, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, CSUSM graduates make an average of $43,115 annually.
Read full report on California State University - San Marcos
Brandman University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #15 on the list. Brandman is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 917 degrees in 2020-2021.
Brandman undergraduate students pay an average of $12,480 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,571 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Brandman graduates make an average of $60,858 annually.
In addition to its great value ranking, Brandman is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Teaching Schools in California list.
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in California ranking. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, the large public school awarded 148 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo undergraduate students pay an average of $28,105 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,067 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $377, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduates make an average of $54,753 annually.
California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Located in Carson, California, the fairly large public school awarded 457 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CSUDH are $18,940 a year. On average, students take out $18,973 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from CSUDH, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,452 during the early years of their career.
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #18 on the list. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 193 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Cal Poly Pomona are $19,319 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,789 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $171 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Cal Poly Pomona graduates make an average of $45,201 annually.
Read full report on California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
California State University - Stanislaus landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Located in Turlock, California, the fairly large public school handed out 186 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Stan State are $19,524 a year. On average, students take out $17,714 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $138, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Stan State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,835 during the early years of their career.
Sonoma State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in California list. SSU is located in Rohnert Park, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 146 degrees to qualified students.
SSU undergraduate students pay an average of $19,868 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,130 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $267. During the early years of their career, SSU graduates make an average of $46,865 annually.
California State University - Chico landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Chico State is located in Chico, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 126 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Chico State are $19,744 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,135 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $365, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Chico State graduates make an average of $41,305 annually.
University of California - Berkeley came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in California ranking. Located in Berkeley, California, the large public school handed out 118 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UC Berkeley are $43,980 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,301 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $323 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UC Berkeley, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,587 during the early years of their career.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UC Berkeley also is in the top 15% of our Best Teaching Schools in California ranking.
San Diego State University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 630 degrees in 2020-2021.
SDSU undergraduate students pay an average of $20,016 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,150 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $251, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from SDSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,826 during the early years of their career.
University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #24 on the list. This large public school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 265 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UCLA are $43,012 a year. On average, students take out $16,277 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $278.After graduating from UCLA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,838 during the early years of their career.
Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Point Loma Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in San Diego, California that handed out 211 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at PLNU are $39,500 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,219 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $685, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from PLNU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,716 during the early years of their career.
Best Value Teaching Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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