2023 Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in California
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The Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Grad Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 205 schools in California to see which master's degree 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 Master's Degree Schools in California
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 California. 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.
One thing to take note of is that USC does offer online graduate classes in some areas. 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.
The excellent master’s degree programs at National University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in California. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 4,339 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at National University. During the 2019-2020 year, about 48% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of California - Los Angeles is a great place for students working on their master’s degree. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 3,137 students in 2020-2021.
Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UCLA. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in California list. San Jose State is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 2,909 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
San Jose State 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 94% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of California - Berkeley came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in California ranking. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 2,905 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.
UC Berkeley does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. 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.
With a ranking of #7, Stanford University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Stanford is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,203 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Stanford does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. 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 ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in California list. This large public school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 2,170 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 39% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at UCSD, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #9, Pepperdine University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Pepperdine is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Malibu, California. It awarded 1,956 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Pepperdine is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Brandman University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in California list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 1,652 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 69% 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 #11, California State University - Northridge did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,634 students in 2020-2021.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at CSUN. In fact, around 91% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Read full report on California State University - Northridge
California State University - Long Beach 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 #12 on the list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,630 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
CSULB 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 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #13, University of San Francisco did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. University of San Francisco is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 1,634 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
USFCA 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 100% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
University of California - Irvine ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in California list. This large public school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 1,609 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UC Irvine. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
California State University - Fullerton came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in California ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,575 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Cal State Fullerton 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 fact, around 99% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #16, San Diego State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,556 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
SDSU 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. 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.
With a ranking of #17, California Baptist University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Cal Baptist is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 1,310 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Cal Baptist. In 2019-2020 about 45% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Naval Postgraduate School 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 #18 on the list. Naval Postgraduate School is a public institution located in Monterey, California. The school has a small population, 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 offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 47% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of California - Davis 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 #19 on the list. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,225 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UC Davis. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 52% took at least some of their classes online.
California State University - East Bay landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,190 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Cal State East Bay does offer online graduate classes in some areas. 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.
California State University - Los Angeles landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Located in Los Angeles, California, the large public school handed out 1,180 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Cal State LA. 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.
Concordia University, 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 #22 on the list. Concordia University, Irvine is a small private not-for-profit school located in Irvine, California that handed out 1,092 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Concordia University, Irvine. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
University of San Diego landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Located in San Diego, California, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,121 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 57% 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 24% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Northcentral University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Northcentral University is located in San Diego, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,029 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
Since the graduate programs at Northcentral University are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
California State University - Sacramento 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 #25 on the list. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,024 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Sac State does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on California State University - Sacramento
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in California
Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
View Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | California State University - Fresno | Fresno, CA |
| 33 | University of California - Riverside | Riverside, CA |
| 34 | California State University - Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA |
| 35 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 36 | California State University - San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA |
| 37 | University of the People | Pasadena, CA |
| 38 | Sofia University | Palo Alto, CA |
| 39 | Alliant International University | San Diego, CA |
| 40 | Chapman University | Orange, CA |
| 41 | Touro University Worldwide | Los Alamitos, CA |
| 42 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, 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.
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