ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Actuarial Science Schools in California

2 Colleges in the United States
$15,162 Avg Student Debt
$79,393 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Actuarial Science Badge [Actuarial Science](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong actuarial science education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for actuarial science students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 7
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 52.13), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Analytics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Analytics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Analytics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Analytics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA - Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MBA - Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Data Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - Data Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Data Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Data Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Data Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Data Science (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget

2026 Best Value Actuarial Science Schools in California

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the actuarial science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Actuarial Science Schools

1

University Of California Riverside earned the #1 spot for value among actuarial science schools in California. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $55,862. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.

2

University Of California Santa Barbara is a great value for students pursuing a degree in actuarial science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $11,128 in student loans. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $66,099. That is a strong return on a $11,128 median debt. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #3 place for actuarial science. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Actuarial Science graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $169,099 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for actuarial science. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Actuarial Science graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.

ADBLOCK #173
View All Actuarial Science Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options