2026 Best Value Computational & Applied Mathematics Schools in California
[Computational & Applied Mathematics](/majors/mathematics-and-statistics/applied-mathematics/computational-and-applied-mathematics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong computational & applied mathematics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for computational & applied mathematics students.
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2026 Best Value Computational & Applied Mathematics Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the computational & applied mathematics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Computational & Applied Mathematics Schools
Stanford University tops our 2026 list of the best value computational & applied mathematics schools in California. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Computational & Applied Mathematics graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computational & applied mathematics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Cruz earned it the #2 place for computational & applied mathematics. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,035, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. Typical student debt for computational & applied mathematics graduates is $18,559. Early-career computational & applied mathematics graduates make about $40,920. Set against $18,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Saint Marys College Of California came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value computational & applied mathematics schools. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $57,803. Students borrow a median of $25,041 to complete the computational & applied mathematics program here. Soon after graduation, computational & applied mathematics degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $59,760. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in computational & applied mathematics will find it at University Of Southern California, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Computational & Applied Mathematics graduates carry a median of $12,251 in student loans. Early-career computational & applied mathematics graduates make about $78,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
More Computational & Applied Mathematics Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 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.
