2026 Best Value Ecology Schools in California
[Ecology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/ecology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for ecology students.
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2026 Best Value Ecology Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in ecology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Ecology Schools
For return on investment in ecology, no school beat University Of California Riverside this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Ecology graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Ecology graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $40,040 early in their careers. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in ecology will find it at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for ecology graduates is $17,417. Ecology graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $18,728 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,417 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in ecology will find it at University Of California Davis, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Typical student debt for ecology graduates is $19,951. Ecology graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,161 early in their careers. Set against $19,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Cruz earned it the #4 place for ecology. 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. Ecology graduates carry a median of $18,887 in student loans. Early-career ecology graduates make about $25,810. That is a strong return on a $18,887 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 · 6 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.
