2026 Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools in California
[Clinical Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/clinical-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong clinical psychology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value clinical psychology schools.
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2026 Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in clinical psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools
California State University San Bernardino earned the #1 spot for value among clinical psychology schools in California. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Clinical Psychology graduates carry a median of $14,958 in student loans. Clinical Psychology graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $47,204 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in clinical psychology will find it at University Of California San Diego, which ranked #2. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Clinical Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Clinical Psychology graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $26,953 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical psychology will find it at San Jose State University, which ranked #3. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Irvine earned it the #4 place for clinical psychology. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for clinical psychology graduates is $16,539. Soon after graduation, clinical psychology degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $45,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
San Diego State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Clinical Psychology graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical psychology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $84,055. That is a strong return on a $16,417 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Vanguard University Of Southern California landed the #6 spot for clinical psychology value 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. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete the clinical psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical psychology degree recipients from Vanguard University Of Southern California generally make around $80,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Mount St Marys College earned the #7 position for value in clinical psychology this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,564. Clinical Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career clinical psychology graduates make about $41,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
California Lutheran University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical psychology schools. Located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,560. Typical student debt for clinical psychology graduates is $22,727. Early-career clinical psychology graduates make about $72,291. Set against $22,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Lutheran University admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of La Verne landed the #9 spot for clinical psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,470 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the clinical psychology program here. Early-career clinical psychology graduates make about $35,364. That is a strong return on a $26,314 median debt. University Of La Verne admits about 71% of applicants.
California Baptist University earned the #10 position for value in clinical psychology this year. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,228. Clinical Psychology graduates carry a median of $28,169 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical psychology degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $55,299. Set against $28,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Biola University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical psychology schools. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,984. Students borrow a median of $27,568 to complete the clinical psychology program here. Early-career clinical psychology graduates make about $83,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
National University earned the #12 position for value in clinical psychology this year. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $13,284 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical psychology graduates is $30,426. Soon after graduation, clinical psychology degree recipients from National University generally make around $57,834. Set against $30,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of San Francisco earned the #13 position for value in clinical psychology this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,522 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete the clinical psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical psychology degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $65,358. Set against $23,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Pepperdine University landed the #14 spot for clinical psychology value this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,918. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete the clinical psychology program here. Clinical Psychology graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $67,205 early in their careers. Set against $23,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pepperdine University admits about 63% of applicants.
Point Loma Nazarene University earned the #15 position for value in clinical psychology this year. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,250. Typical student debt for clinical psychology graduates is $22,542. Clinical Psychology graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $56,660 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Point Loma Nazarene University admits about 84% of applicants.
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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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
