2026 Best Value Ecology Schools in the Far Western Region
[Ecology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/ecology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong ecology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for ecology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Ecology Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the ecology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Ecology Schools
University Of California Riverside tops our 2026 list of the best value ecology schools in the Far Western Region. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Ecology graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Ecology graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $40,040 early in their careers. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ecology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Ecology graduates carry a median of $17,417 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ecology degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $18,728. That is a strong return on a $17,417 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Students looking for strong value in ecology will find it at University Of California Davis, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,951 to complete the ecology program here. Soon after graduation, ecology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,161. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Santa Cruz one of the best values for ecology. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Students borrow a median of $18,887 to complete the ecology program here. Ecology graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $25,810 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
