2026 Best Value Cell/Cellular & Molecular Biology Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the cell/cellular & molecular biology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Cell/Cellular & Molecular Biology Schools
University Of California San Diego tops our 2026 list of the best value cell/cellular & molecular biology schools in the Far Western Region. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Cell/cellular & Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Cell/cellular & Molecular Biology graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of California Merced came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value cell/cellular & molecular biology schools. Located in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,653, compared with $46,541 for out-of-state students. Cell/cellular & Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $18,318 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cell/cellular & molecular biology degree recipients from University Of California Merced generally make around $42,071. Set against $18,318 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Irvine earned it the #3 place for cell/cellular & molecular biology. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete the cell/cellular & molecular biology program here. Early-career cell/cellular & molecular biology graduates make about $50,958. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value cell/cellular & molecular biology schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Cell/cellular & Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $14,781 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cell/cellular & molecular biology degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $42,075. That is a strong return on a $14,781 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Students looking for strong value in cell/cellular & molecular biology will find it at University Of Hawaii At Manoa, which ranked #5. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Cell/cellular & Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $20,577 in student loans. Early-career cell/cellular & molecular biology graduates make about $48,181. That is a strong return on a $20,577 median debt. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside came in at #6 for value in cell/cellular & molecular biology this year. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,861 to complete the cell/cellular & molecular biology program here. Cell/cellular & Molecular Biology graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $31,148 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #7 among the best values for cell/cellular & molecular biology. 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. Typical student debt for cell/cellular & molecular biology graduates is $15,848. Early-career cell/cellular & molecular biology graduates make about $36,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value cell/cellular & molecular biology schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the cell/cellular & molecular biology program here. Soon after graduation, cell/cellular & molecular biology degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $56,951. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #9 spot for cell/cellular & molecular biology value this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the cell/cellular & molecular biology program here. Early-career cell/cellular & molecular biology graduates make about $45,088. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Western Washington University came in at #10 for value in cell/cellular & molecular biology this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,582, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Typical student debt for cell/cellular & molecular biology graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, cell/cellular & molecular biology degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $39,225. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
[Cell/Cellular & Molecular Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/cell-biology-anatomical-sciences/cell-cellular-and-molecular-biology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
