by our College Data Analytics Team
[Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 145 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Oxnard College tops our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools in California. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
West Valley College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 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. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Mt San Antonio College one of the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. 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. Set against $9,384 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. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
California State University Los Angeles placed #6 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $22,500. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $27,058 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
Citrus College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,204 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,065 ten years after entry.
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Chabot College came in at #8 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $8,686. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. Set against $14,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fullerton came in at #9 for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $17,643 in student loans. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $28,965 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,643 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
California State University Fresno ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $15,598. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $49,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Sierra College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $29,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $26,771. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
City College Of San Francisco placed #13 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $100,031. 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. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,363 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $28,470. That is a strong return on a $15,363 median debt. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
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California State University San Marcos ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,082, while out-of-state students pay about $20,682. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $17,527. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies 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 Sacramento placed #16 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. 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. Students borrow a median of $18,120 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $30,628 early in their careers. Set against $18,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
East Los Angeles College landed the #17 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $33,595. That is a strong return on a $8,180 median debt.
California State University East Bay landed the #18 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $47,511. Set against $18,638 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Coastline Community College landed the #19 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Located in the city of Fountain Valley, Coastline Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $11,612. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,483 ten years after entry.
Stanford University landed the #20 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $41,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego placed #21 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. 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. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #22 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Los Angeles Valley College placed #23 among the best values for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Los Angeles Valley College is a very large public school located in the city of Valley Glen. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates carry a median of $10,254 in student loans. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $81,600. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of California Irvine ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Students borrow a median of $18,998 to complete the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program here. Early-career area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates make about $29,748. That is a strong return on a $18,998 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University earned the #25 position for value in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies graduates is $17,875. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies 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.
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These schools also delivered strong value for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year:
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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 · 145 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
