2026 Best Value Geography Schools in California
[Geography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geography/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 97 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value geography schools.
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2026 Best Value Geography Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geography Schools
Leading the list is San Diego Mesa College, our #1 best value for geography in California. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the geography program here. Geography graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $5,707. Early-career geography graduates make about $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the geography program here. Geography graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes California State University Los Angeles one of the best values for geography. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete the geography program here. Early-career geography graduates make about $33,727. That is a strong return on a $14,430 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
American River College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geography, landing the #5 spot this year. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $14,105. Geography graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Set against $14,105 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fullerton ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete the geography program here. Geography graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $26,040 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Palomar College landed the #7 spot for geography value this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
California State University Northridge placed #8 among the best values for geography. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $8,250. Early-career geography graduates make about $27,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Foothill College came in at #9 for value in geography this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,565, compared with $12,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,595 to complete the geography program here. Geography graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $94,152 early in their careers. Set against $11,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City College Of San Francisco ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,696, compared with $14,656 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $100,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Long Beach ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $52,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,881 to complete the geography program here. Geography graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $48,227 early in their careers. Set against $15,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Santa Barbara City College came in at #13 for value in geography this year. Santa Barbara City College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Barbara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,240, with out-of-state students paying around $10,432. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $21,090. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Santa Barbara City College generally make around $68,184. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #14 position for value in geography this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $15,826. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $35,426. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
San Francisco State University came in at #15 for value in geography this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $13,768. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $24,875. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Humboldt State University landed the #16 spot for geography value this year. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. Students from in state pay about $8,397 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,997. Students borrow a median of $17,412 to complete the geography program here. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from Humboldt State University generally make around $27,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Sonoma State University earned the #17 position for value in geography this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,624, while out-of-state students pay about $21,224. Geography graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $40,614. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #18 spot for geography value this year. 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, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the geography program here. Early-career geography graduates make about $37,398. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #19 for value in geography this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Geography graduates carry a median of $13,969 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $36,776. That is a strong return on a $13,969 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Davis came in at #20 for value in geography this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $14,404. Geography graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
San Diego State University earned the #21 position for value in geography this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Geography graduates carry a median of $14,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $38,648. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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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 · 97 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
