by our College Data Analytics Team
[Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 190 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, no school beat Oxnard College this year. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
A rank of #2 makes West Valley College one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. In-state tuition and fees average $0, while out-of-state students pay about $9,320. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $14,308. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mt San Antonio College earned it the #3 place for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Fresno City College one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Dominguez Hills is a great value for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $15,886. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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California State University Los Angeles ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $27,058 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Citrus College placed #7 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
Chabot College placed #8 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,150 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,686. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $14,122. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Fresno placed #9 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. That is a strong return on a $15,598 median debt. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton placed #10 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Students borrow a median of $17,643 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $28,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Sierra College placed #11 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,446. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $12,733 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Sierra College generally make around $29,214. Set against $12,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Northridge landed the #12 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $15,000. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $26,771 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
City College Of San Francisco came in at #13 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,696, while out-of-state students pay about $14,656. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $10,332. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Long Beach ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $15,363. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $28,470. That is a strong return on a $15,363 median debt. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
Windward Community College earned the #15 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Windward Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kaneohe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,194, while out-of-state students pay about $8,330. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $10,930. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $32,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University San Marcos came in at #16 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,082, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $17,527 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,726 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,527 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
California State University Sacramento came in at #17 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $18,120. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $30,628. Set against $18,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University East Bay placed #18 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, compared with $20,183 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,638 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $47,511 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
East Los Angeles College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $33,595. Set against $8,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stanford University placed #20 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $41,156. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego earned the #21 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,485 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $30,984 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,485 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Coastline Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Fountain Valley, Coastline Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,612 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,483 ten years after entry.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #23 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $13,486. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $40,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Hawaii At Hilo placed #24 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Located in the town of Hilo, University Of Hawaii At Hilo is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,798. Students borrow a median of $22,615 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of Hawaii At Hilo earn a median of $48,141 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,615 median debt. University Of Hawaii At Hilo admits about 61% of applicants.
Los Angeles Valley College came in at #25 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Los Angeles Valley College is a very large public school located in the city of Valley Glen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $10,254. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Los Angeles Valley College generally make around $81,600. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value ranking:
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This ranking is produced 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 · 190 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
