2023 Most Popular Master's Degree 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Grad Degree Search has created the Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 279 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which ones were the most popular master's degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Featured schools near , edit
Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found University of Southern California to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a master’s degree in the Far Western US Region . This large private not-for-profit school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 9,128 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at USC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 82% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Out of the 279 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the # 2 spot on the list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 4,293 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
One thing to take note of is that UW Seattle does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 7% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means National University is a great place for students working on their master’s degree. National University is located in La Jolla, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,339 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that National University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 48% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Los Angeles, California, the large public school handed out 3,137 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UCLA. In 2019-2020 about 79% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
San Jose State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 2,909 students in 2020-2021.
Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at San Jose State. In 2019-2020 about 94% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of California - Berkeley came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Berkeley, California, the large public school awarded 2,905 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UC Berkeley. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 90% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Stanford University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Stanford, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,203 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 45% were women.
Stanford does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 10% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
University of California - San Diego landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 2,170 students in 2020-2021.
Around 39% of those degree recipients were women.
UCSD does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 65% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Pepperdine University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Malibu, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,956 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Pepperdine is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.
Brandman University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Brandman University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Irvine, California that handed out 1,652 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 69% 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.
California State University - Northridge ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 1,634 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at CSUN, 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.
California State University - Long Beach ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,630 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at CSULB. 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.
University of San Francisco did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in San Francisco, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,634 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
USFCA does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Portland State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Portland State University is located in Portland, Oregon and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,610 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Portland State University. In 2019-2020 about 20% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of California - Irvine did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #16 on the list. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,609 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UC Irvine does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #17, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 1,575 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Cal State Fullerton. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.
San Diego State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Located in San Diego, California, the large public school handed out 1,556 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at SDSU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
California Baptist University ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Cal Baptist is located in Riverside, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,310 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Cal Baptist 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 45% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Naval Postgraduate School ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. This small public school is located in Monterey, California, and it awarded 1,211 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 20% were women.
Naval Postgraduate School 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 47% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #21, University of California - Davis did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Davis, California, the large public school handed out 1,225 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UC Davis does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 52% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #22, California State University - East Bay did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Hayward, California, the fairly large public school handed out 1,190 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Cal State East Bay. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #23, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. This large public school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 1,180 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Cal State LA. 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
University of Nevada - Las Vegas ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. UNLV is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,131 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UNLV does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 64% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Irvine came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Concordia University, Irvine is located in Irvine, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,092 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Since the graduate programs at Concordia University, Irvine are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
Not only did these schools make the top 42 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Narrow Schools by State
View Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | California State University - Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA |
| 44 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 45 | California State University - San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA |
| 46 | University of the People | Pasadena, CA |
| 47 | Sofia University | Palo Alto, CA |
| 48 | Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA |
| 49 | Seattle University | Seattle, WA |
| 50 | Alliant International University | San Diego, CA |
| 51 | Chapman University | Orange, CA |
| 52 | Touro University Worldwide | Los Alamitos, CA |
| 53 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| 54 | University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA |
| 55 | University of California - Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 56 | West Coast University - Orange County | Anaheim, CA |
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.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.