2026 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in the Far Western Region
[Engineering & Applied Physics](/majors/engineering/engineering-physics/engineering-applied-physics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering & applied physics students.
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2026 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering & applied physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools
Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 best value for engineering & applied physics in the Far Western Region. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $14,238. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
California Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,898 in tuition and fees. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers. California Institute Of Technology admits about 3% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Oregon earned it the #3 place for engineering & applied physics. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. In-state tuition and fees average $15,320, while out-of-state students pay about $42,516. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $22,034. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $98,640 early in their careers. Set against $22,034 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Biola University earned it the #4 place for engineering & applied physics. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Students from in state pay about $48,984 in tuition and fees. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $25,308 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Biola University earn a median of $45,003 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Biola University admits about 74% of applicants.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
