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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in California

3 Colleges in the United States
$14,925 Avg Student Debt
$94,742 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Badge [Sustainability Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sustainability science education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sustainability science students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in California

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

Best Value Sustainability Science Schools

1
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best value for a degree in sustainability science in California. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the sustainability science program here. Sustainability Science graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.

2

University Of California Riverside came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,045 to complete the sustainability science program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $30,698. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for sustainability science. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $14,238. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $75,703 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.

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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 · 14 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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