2026 Best Value Finance Schools in California
[Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/finance/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for finance students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Finance Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the finance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Finance Schools
California State University Northridge earned the #1 spot for value among finance schools in California. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $48,553. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in finance will find it at University Of California Riverside, which ranked #2. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete the finance program here. Finance 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. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes California Lutheran University one of the best values for finance. Located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $22,727. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from California Lutheran University generally make around $80,356. That is a strong return on a $22,727 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Ashford University one of the best values for finance. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,960. Students borrow a median of $31,133 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Ashford University earn a median of $57,566 early in their careers. Set against $31,133 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Claremont Mckenna College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,980 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Claremont Mckenna College generally make around $66,028. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Menlo College earned the #6 position for value in finance this year. Located in the suburb of Atherton, Menlo College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,630 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $24,500. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Menlo College generally make around $69,684. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
California Baptist University came in at #7 for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,228. Students borrow a median of $28,169 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $51,999. Set against $28,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
National University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $13,284 in tuition and fees. Finance graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from National University generally make around $69,080. Set against $30,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of San Diego placed #9 among the best values for finance. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,486 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,508 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $64,819. That is a strong return on a $23,508 median debt. University Of San Diego admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Southern California placed #10 among the best values for finance. 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. Finance graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Finance graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
University Of San Francisco came in at #11 for value in finance this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $60,522. Finance graduates carry a median of $24,347 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $64,972. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Pepperdine University landed the #12 spot for finance value this year. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,918. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $23,645. Early-career finance graduates make about $57,582. Set against $23,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pepperdine University admits about 63% of applicants.
Loyola Marymount University came in at #13 for value in finance this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,867. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $19,500. Early-career finance graduates make about $70,542. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #14 for value in finance this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,250. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $54,116. That is a strong return on a $22,542 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Santa Clara University landed the #15 spot for finance value this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,293. Finance graduates carry a median of $16,201 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $79,929. Set against $16,201 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
