2026 Best Value Microbiology Schools in the Far Western Region
[Microbiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/microbiological-sciences-immunology/microbiology/) 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 21 schools to find the best return on investment for microbiology students.
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2026 Best Value Microbiology Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in microbiology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Microbiology Schools
California State University Long Beach tops our 2026 list of the best value microbiology schools in the Far Western Region. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete the microbiology program here. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $48,631. Set against $15,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California San Diego earned it the #2 place for microbiology. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $13,811 to complete the microbiology program here. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $43,608. Set against $13,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value microbiology schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $15,917. Microbiology graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $34,669 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,917 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in microbiology will find it at University Of California Riverside, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $14,121. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $43,086. That is a strong return on a $14,121 median debt. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in microbiology will find it at University Of Hawaii At Manoa, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $20,577. Microbiology graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $48,181 early in their careers. Set against $20,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value microbiology schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $42,634. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University came in at #7 for value in microbiology this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Students from in state pay about $13,391 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,950. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $43,736. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #8 position for value in microbiology this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $50,706. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
California State University Chico landed the #9 spot for microbiology value this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,472, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $24,572 in student loans. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $49,068. That is a strong return on a $24,572 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of California Davis earned the #10 position for value in microbiology this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $11,000. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $46,005. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #11 spot for microbiology value this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $22,138 in student loans. Microbiology graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $55,807 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,138 median debt. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
San Diego State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value microbiology schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Microbiology graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $45,360 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University placed #13 among the best values for microbiology. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $22,959. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $37,610. That is a strong return on a $22,959 median debt. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
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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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
