2026 Best Value Retail Management Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the retail management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Retail Management Schools
For return on investment in retail management, no school beat San Diego Miramar College this year. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical student debt for retail management graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes San Diego Mesa College one of the best values for retail management. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the retail management program here. Retail Management graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $40,642 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Cerritos College one of the best values for retail management. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,998 to complete the retail management program here. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $56,738. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value retail management schools. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Retail Management graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Canyons earned it the #5 place for retail management. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Typical student debt for retail management graduates is $9,980. Early-career retail management graduates make about $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,980 median debt.
College Of San Mateo earned the #6 position for value in retail management this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for retail management graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College landed the #7 spot for retail management value this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the retail management program here. Early-career retail management graduates make about $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Norco College landed the #8 spot for retail management value this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Typical student debt for retail management graduates is $8,203. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College placed #9 among the best values for retail management. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Typical student debt for retail management graduates is $7,689. Early-career retail management graduates make about $27,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grossmont College earned the #10 position for value in retail management this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $10,628. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
Golden West College earned the #11 position for value in retail management this year. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,380 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the retail management program here. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College came in at #12 for value in retail management this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Retail Management graduates carry a median of $5,681 in student loans. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. That is a strong return on a $5,681 median debt.
Solano Community College landed the #13 spot for retail management value this year. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,172, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Typical student debt for retail management graduates is $10,500. Median earnings reach $44,170 ten years out. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shasta College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value retail management schools. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,197, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Typical student debt for retail management graduates is $12,275. Retail Management graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
Santa Ana College landed the #15 spot for retail management value this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Retail Management graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $30,315. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value retail management schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Retail Management graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $28,460. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American River College earned the #17 position for value in retail management this year. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Typical student debt for retail management graduates is $7,575. Retail Management graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Set against $7,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chabot College earned the #18 position for value in retail management this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete the retail management program here. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. Set against $14,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clover Park Technical College placed #19 among the best values for retail management. Located in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,634 in tuition and fees. Retail Management graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $42,209. That is a strong return on a $15,154 median debt.
Las Positas College earned the #20 position for value in retail management this year. Located in the city of Livermore, Las Positas College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,168, compared with $9,808 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,088 ten years after entry.
Butte College landed the #21 spot for retail management value this year. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Retail Management graduates carry a median of $13,302 in student loans. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $67,048. Set against $13,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverside City College landed the #22 spot for retail management value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for retail management graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange Coast College placed #23 among the best values for retail management. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Retail Management graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Soon after graduation, retail management degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cypress College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value retail management schools. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,533 ten years out.
Merced College earned the #25 position for value in retail management this year. Located in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,200, while out-of-state students pay about $8,520. Students borrow a median of $9,024 to complete the retail management program here. Retail Management graduates of Merced College earn a median of $45,032 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,024 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Retail Management Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s retail management value ranking:
Narrow Retail Management Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 65 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
[Retail Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/retail-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong retail management education at a price that pays off.
