2026 Best Value Religion/Religious Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
[Religion/Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/religious-studies/religion-religious-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong religion/religious studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 71 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for religion/religious studies students.
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2026 Best Value Religion/Religious Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the religion/religious studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Religion/Religious Studies Schools
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #1 spot for value among religion/religious studies schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Typical student debt for religion/religious studies graduates is $15,873. Soon after graduation, religion/religious studies degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $19,911. That is a strong return on a $15,873 median debt. The acceptance rate is 33%.
Vanguard University Of Southern California is a great value for students pursuing a degree in religion/religious studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,700. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $21,111 in student loans. Early-career religion/religious studies graduates make about $80,727. That is a strong return on a $21,111 median debt. Vanguard University Of Southern California admits about 62% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Mount St Marys College one of the best values for religion/religious studies. Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,564. Students borrow a median of $27,555 to complete the religion/religious studies program here. Early-career religion/religious studies graduates make about $58,110. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value religion/religious studies schools. Set in the city of Tacoma, Faith Evangelical College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,850. Students borrow a median of $17,813 to complete the religion/religious studies program here. Religion/religious Studies graduates of Faith Evangelical College And Seminary earn a median of $42,103 early in their careers. Set against $17,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Clara University earned it the #5 place for religion/religious studies. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. In-state tuition and fees average $61,293. Typical student debt for religion/religious studies graduates is $20,144. Religion/religious Studies graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
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Notes and References
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 · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
