2026 Best Value Microbiological Sciences & Immunology Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the microbiological sciences & immunology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Microbiological Sciences & Immunology Schools
For return on investment in microbiological sciences & immunology, no school beat California State University Long Beach this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for microbiological sciences & immunology graduates is $15,671. Early-career microbiological sciences & immunology graduates make about $48,631. That is a strong return on a $15,671 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego is a great value for students pursuing a degree in microbiological sciences & immunology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates carry a median of $13,811 in student loans. Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $43,608 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,811 median debt. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stanford University earned it the #3 place for microbiological sciences & immunology. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the microbiological sciences & immunology program here. Soon after graduation, microbiological sciences & immunology degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine is a great value for students pursuing a degree in microbiological sciences & immunology, landing the #4 spot this year. 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, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for microbiological sciences & immunology graduates is $16,539. Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Riverside one of the best values for microbiological sciences & immunology. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates carry a median of $14,121 in student loans. Early-career microbiological sciences & immunology graduates make about $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value microbiological sciences & immunology schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, microbiological sciences & immunology degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $42,634. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #7 among the best values for microbiological sciences & immunology. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Early-career microbiological sciences & immunology graduates make about $36,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley placed #8 among the best values for microbiological sciences & immunology. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for microbiological sciences & immunology graduates is $14,308. Early-career microbiological sciences & immunology graduates make about $50,706. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
California State University Chico placed #9 among the best values for microbiological sciences & immunology. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,472, while out-of-state students pay about $21,072. Students borrow a median of $24,572 to complete the microbiological sciences & immunology program here. Soon after graduation, microbiological sciences & immunology degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $49,068. That is a strong return on a $24,572 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis landed the #10 spot for microbiological sciences & immunology value this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for microbiological sciences & immunology graduates is $11,000. Early-career microbiological sciences & immunology graduates make about $46,005. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value microbiological sciences & immunology schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates carry a median of $22,138 in student loans. Soon after graduation, microbiological sciences & immunology degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $55,807. Set against $22,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.
San Diego State University earned the #12 position for value in microbiological sciences & immunology this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Early-career microbiological sciences & immunology graduates make about $45,360. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.
University Of Southern California came in at #13 for value in microbiological sciences & immunology this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Microbiological Sciences & Immunology graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, microbiological sciences & immunology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 10%.
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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
[Microbiological Sciences & Immunology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/microbiological-sciences-immunology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
