2026 Best Value General Genetics Schools in the Far Western Region

[General Genetics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/genetics/genetics-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for general genetics students.
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2026 Best Value General Genetics Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general genetics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Genetics Schools
University Of California Irvine earned the #1 spot for value among general genetics schools in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. General Genetics graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general genetics degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for general genetics. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the general genetics program here. General Genetics graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Washington State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general genetics, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,903 to complete the general genetics program here. Early-career general genetics graduates make about $54,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington State University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of California Davis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general genetics, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general genetics graduates is $14,293. Early-career general genetics graduates make about $41,334. Set against $14,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern California University Of Health Sciences earned it the #5 place for general genetics. Southern California University Of Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Whittier. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,390. Typical student debt for general genetics graduates is $20,378. General Genetics graduates of Southern California University Of Health Sciences earn a median of $48,442 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,378 median debt.
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.