2023 Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor 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. Our analysis looked at 279 schools in the Far Western US Region 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 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 . USC is located in Los Angeles, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9,128 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since USC does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 82% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. UW Seattle is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4,293 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
UW Seattle does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 7% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Read full report on University of Washington - Seattle Campus
You’ll be in good company if you attend National University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 4,339 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
National University does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 48% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent master’s degree programs at University of California - Los Angeles helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the Far Western US Region . University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 3,137 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.
One thing to take note of is that UCLA does offer online graduate classes in some areas. 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 State is located in San Jose, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,909 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since San Jose 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 94% took at least some of their classes online.
University of California - Berkeley ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. 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.
Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UC Berkeley. In fact, around 90% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Stanford 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 #8 on the list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Stanford, California, 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 came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2,170 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 39% were women.
One thing to take note of is that UCSD does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 65% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Pepperdine University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Malibu, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,956 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Since the graduate programs at Pepperdine are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Brandman 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 #11 on the list. Brandman is located in Irvine, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,652 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Brandman is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.
California State University - Northridge came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Northridge is a large public school located in Northridge, California that handed out 1,634 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
CSUN 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 91% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
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 #13 on the list. Located in Long Beach, California, the large public school awarded 1,630 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 62% of those degree recipients 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. 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.
Read full report on California State University - Long Beach
University of San Francisco ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 1,634 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
One thing to take note of is that USFCA does offer online graduate classes in some areas. 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.
Portland 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 #15 on the list. Portland, Oregon is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,610 students in 2020-2021.
Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Portland State University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. 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. University of California - Irvine is a large public school located in Irvine, California that handed out 1,609 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at UC Irvine, 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, 95% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
California State University - Fullerton 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 #17 on the list. 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.
Around 59% of those degree recipients 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. 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. 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.
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. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 1,310 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Cal Baptist. In fact, around 45% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
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 #20 on the list. Naval Postgraduate School is a small public school located in Monterey, California that handed out 1,211 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 20% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Naval Postgraduate School, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 47% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
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 #21 on the list. Located in Davis, California, the large public school awarded 1,225 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at UC Davis, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 52% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
California State University - East Bay came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,190 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Cal State East Bay, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,180 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 Cal State LA does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. 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 #24, University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. UNLV is a public institution located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,131 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 UNLV. In 2019-2020 about 64% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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. Located in Irvine, California, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,092 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Concordia University, Irvine is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
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:
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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.
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