2026 Best Value Engineering Science Schools in California
[Engineering Science](/majors/engineering/engineering-science/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value engineering science schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Engineering Science Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering Science Schools
University Of California San Diego earned the #1 spot for value among engineering science schools in California. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $60,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #2 place for engineering science. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the engineering science program here. Engineering 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. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned it the #3 place for engineering science. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $19,273. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $61,010. Set against $19,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% 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 · 5 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.
