2026 Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools in the Far Western Region
[Chemical & Physical Oceanography](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/oceanography-chemical-and-physical/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong chemical & physical oceanography education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for chemical & physical oceanography students.
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2026 Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the chemical & physical oceanography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools
University Of California San Diego tops our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $79,645. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in chemical & physical oceanography will find it at University Of Alaska Fairbanks, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,083, while out-of-state students pay about $25,892. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $23,439. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from University Of Alaska Fairbanks generally make around $50,963. That is a strong return on a $23,439 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Humboldt State University one of the best values for chemical & physical oceanography. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,397, while out-of-state students pay about $20,997. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $20,526 in student loans. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of $29,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Students looking for strong value in chemical & physical oceanography will find it at University Of Hawaii At Manoa, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $20,577. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $48,181. That is a strong return on a $20,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #5 place for chemical & physical oceanography. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $29,724. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #6 position for value in chemical & physical oceanography this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,035, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $20,833. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $43,362 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,833 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 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.
