by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/ethnic-cultural-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in value, no school beat Fresno City College this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. That is a strong return on a $7,234 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $25,305. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Los Angeles one of the best values for value. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Value graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Value graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $27,058 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sierra College earned it the #4 place for value. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $12,733. Early-career value graduates make about $29,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Northridge is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Value graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $26,767. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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California State University Sacramento landed the #6 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Typical student debt for value graduates is $18,120. Value graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $30,628 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University San Marcos earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $17,527. Early-career value graduates make about $48,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University San Marcos admits about 95% of applicants.
California State University East Bay ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,583 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,183. Typical student debt for value graduates is $18,638. Early-career value graduates make about $47,511. Set against $18,638 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University came in at #9 for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $41,156. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #10 position for value in value this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. In-state tuition and fees average $7,781, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Value graduates carry a median of $13,486 in student loans. Value graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $40,253 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Value graduates carry a median of $23,747 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $30,984. That is a strong return on a $23,747 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of California Irvine earned the #12 position for value in value this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,998 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $26,712 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
San Francisco State University landed the #13 spot for value value this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Typical student debt for value graduates is $17,875. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $31,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Humboldt State University landed the #14 spot for value value this year. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, compared with $20,997 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $15,533 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $30,844. That is a strong return on a $15,533 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
San Jose State University came in at #15 for value in value this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside earned the #16 position for value in value this year. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $31,443. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Sonoma State University placed #17 among the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,624 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,224 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $35,263. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Value graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $37,581. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
California State University Chico placed #19 among the best values for value. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,472, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $18,591 in student loans. Value graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $45,591 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,591 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of California Davis earned the #20 position for value in value this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,155 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,563 early in their careers. Set against $14,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Laney College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Laney College is a large public school located in the city of Oakland. Students from in state pay about $1,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,898. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,282 ten years after entry.
San Diego State University placed #22 among the best values for value. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Students borrow a median of $20,499 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $29,267. That is a strong return on a $20,499 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California came in at #23 for value in value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
