ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Value Schools in California

2 Colleges in the United States
$19,978 Avg Student Debt
$80,763 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Value Badge [Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 14
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 30.70), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Data Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Data Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Data Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Data Science (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Analytics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Analytics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Analytics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Analytics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA - Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MBA - Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Data Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - Data Analytics (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "AS in Data Analytics" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "AS in Data Analytics" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Data Analytics" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Data Analytics" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MS in Data Analytics" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MS in Data Analytics" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Computer Science - Data Analysis" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Computer Science - Data Analysis" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Geosciences - Natural Resources Conservation" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Geosciences - Natural Resources Conservation" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 2
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 2 offers with relevance >= 1.0

2026 Best Value Value Schools in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Value Schools

1

University Of California San Diego earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in California. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value 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. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.

2

Students looking for strong value in value will find it at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. The acceptance rate is 85%.

3

University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Typical student debt for value graduates is $15,501. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 33%.

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of The Pacific one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,514 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $77,022. That is a strong return on a $23,514 median debt. University Of The Pacific admits about 71% of applicants.

5

University Of San Diego came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,486. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Set against $23,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.

ADBLOCK #173
View All Value Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options