2023 Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Grad Degree Search has created its Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 153 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which graduate certificate programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Naval Postgraduate School the most popular school in the Far Western US Region for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Monterey, California, the small public school handed out 1,094 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 22% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Naval Postgraduate School. In fact, around 47% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
The excellent graduate certificate programs at University of Southern California helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the Far Western US Region . USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 962 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at USC. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 82% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Portland State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. This large public school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 811 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,312 in student loans. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Portland State University does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 20% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oregon State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Oregon State University is a large public school located in Corvallis, Oregon that handed out 732 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Oregon State. During the 2019-2020 year, about 43% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent graduate certificate programs at Washington State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the Far Western US Region . Located in Pullman, Washington, the large public school handed out 676 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Wazzu. During the 2019-2020 year, about 30% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
University of Oregon ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. UO is a large public school situated in Eugene, Oregon. It awarded 497 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.
One thing to take note of is that UO does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 9% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Seattle Pacific University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 255 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SPU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 83% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Northcentral University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. San Diego, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 245 students in 2020-2021.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Northcentral University accumulate an average of $22,015 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.
Northcentral University is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Southern Oregon University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Ashland, Oregon, the medium-sized public school handed out 230 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Southern Oregon University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 91% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
California State University - Long Beach came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 203 graduate certificates to qualified students.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,477 in student loans. Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at CSULB. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
California State University - Northridge came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Northridge is a large public school located in Northridge, California that handed out 190 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at CSUN. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
San Jose State University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. San Jose State University is a large public school located in San Jose, California that handed out 177 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 40% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at San Jose State. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.
Seattle University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Seattle University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 178 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Seattle U accumulate an average of $21,447 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Seattle U. During the 2019-2020 year, about 71% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
San Diego State University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 175 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at SDSU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 91% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Saint Mary’s College of California landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Moraga, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 173 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
San Francisco State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. SFSU is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 163 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at SFSU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 93% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #17, Brandman University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Irvine, California, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 145 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Around 81% of those degree recipients were women.
Brandman is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
With a ranking of #18, University of California - Irvine did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. This large public school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 144 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 76% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UC Irvine. In fact, around 95% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #19, Keck Graduate Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. KGI is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 130 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $24,498 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that KGI does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 4% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 120 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 78% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cal State LA does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Read full report on California State University - Los Angeles
With a ranking of #21, Claremont Graduate University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Claremont Graduate University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Claremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 111 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 43% of those degree recipients were women.
Claremont Graduate University does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 67% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Located in Los Angeles, California, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 111 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at The Chicago School Los Angeles Campus. In fact, around 89% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Read full report on The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
University of San Diego landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. USD is located in San Diego, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 102 graduate certificates to qualified students.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $12,665 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 83% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at USD, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 24% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Fielding Graduate University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 101 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Fielding does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 97% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Loyola Marymount University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 84 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Loyola Marymount. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of California - Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 27 | Golden Gate University - San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 28 | University of California - Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
| 29 | Biola University | La Mirada, CA |
| 30 | American College of Healthcare Sciences | Portland, OR |
| 31 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV |
| 31 | Oregon Health & Science University | Portland, OR |
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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