2026 Best Value Animal Science Schools in the Far Western Region
[Animal Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong animal science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for animal science students.
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2026 Best Value Animal Science Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the animal science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Animal Science Schools
For return on investment in animal science, no school beat California State University Fresno this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Typical student debt for animal science graduates is $17,585. Early-career animal science graduates make about $40,311. That is a strong return on a $17,585 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in animal science will find it at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, which ranked #2. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,781, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Animal Science graduates carry a median of $15,550 in student loans. Early-career animal science graduates make about $37,349. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Hawaii At Manoa earned it the #3 place for animal science. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete the animal science program here. Early-career animal science graduates make about $31,285. That is a strong return on a $24,125 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value animal science schools. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, while out-of-state students pay about $29,950. Typical student debt for animal science graduates is $19,545. Soon after graduation, animal science degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $31,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington State University admits about 87% of applicants.
California State University Chico came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value animal science schools. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. Students from in state pay about $8,472 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,072. Typical student debt for animal science graduates is $17,334. Animal Science graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $33,387 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Chico admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of California Davis ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value animal science schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete the animal science program here. Animal Science graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,309 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,625 median debt. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #7 position for value in animal science this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Typical student debt for animal science graduates is $20,500. Animal Science graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $33,879 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.
Oregon State University landed the #8 spot for animal science value this year. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for animal science graduates is $22,362. Early-career animal science graduates make about $32,893. That is a strong return on a $22,362 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
