2026 Best Value Biophysics Schools in the Far Western Region
[Biophysics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/biochemistry-biophysics-molecular-biology/biophysics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for biophysics students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Biophysics Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the biophysics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Biophysics Schools
Leading the list is University Of California San Diego, our #1 best value for biophysics in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $17,500. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $45,066. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stanford University earned it the #2 place for biophysics. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the biophysics program here. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value biophysics schools. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $17,250. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $30,077. Set against $17,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the best values for biophysics. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Students borrow a median of $14,920 to complete the biophysics program here. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $59,523. That is a strong return on a $14,920 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in biophysics will find it at University Of California Davis, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $11,208 in student loans. Biophysics graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $42,266 early in their careers. Set against $11,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of San Diego placed #6 among the best values for biophysics. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,486. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Biophysics graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California placed #7 among the best values for biophysics. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $3,750. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $34,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Narrow Biophysics Schools by State
View All Biophysics Rankings >
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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
