2026 Best Value Molecular Biochemistry Schools in the Far Western Region

[Molecular Biochemistry](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/biochemistry-biophysics-molecular-biology/molecular-biochemistry/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for molecular biochemistry students.
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2026 Best Value Molecular Biochemistry Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in molecular biochemistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Molecular Biochemistry Schools
Leading the list is University Of California Los Angeles, our #1 best value for molecular biochemistry in the Far Western Region. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for molecular biochemistry graduates is $14,920. Soon after graduation, molecular biochemistry degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $59,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Davis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in molecular biochemistry, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for molecular biochemistry graduates is $11,208. Early-career molecular biochemistry graduates make about $42,266. That is a strong return on a $11,208 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value molecular biochemistry schools. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Typical student debt for molecular biochemistry graduates is $18,959. Soon after graduation, molecular biochemistry degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $40,320. Set against $18,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.