2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Far Western Region
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-science-technology/viticulture-and-enology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is California State University Fresno, our #1 best value for value in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Typical student debt for value graduates is $16,500. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $45,796. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Walla Walla Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,279, with out-of-state students paying around $6,700. Value graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Value graduates of Walla Walla Community College earn a median of $46,131 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Napa Valley College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Napa, Napa Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,908 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,517.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Davis one of the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Typical student debt for value graduates is $14,750. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Set against $14,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,654. Early-career value graduates make about $52,240. That is a strong return on a $20,654 median debt. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
Narrow Value Schools by State
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
