2026 Best Value Finance Schools in the Far Western Region

[Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/finance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong finance education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 44 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value finance schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Finance Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the finance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Finance Schools
For return on investment in finance, no school beat University Of Washington Tacoma Campus this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,168, with out-of-state students paying around $43,404. Finance graduates carry a median of $14,208 in student loans. Finance graduates of University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of $63,500 early in their careers. Set against $14,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge is a great value for students pursuing a degree in finance, landing the #2 spot this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $14,000. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $48,553. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #3 place for finance. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $14,208 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $63,500 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,208 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in finance will find it at University Of Nevada Las Vegas, which ranked #4. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Students borrow a median of $17,910 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $50,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Portland State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Students borrow a median of $20,570 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $52,859 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,570 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Eastern Washington University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Eastern Washington University is a large public school located in the town of Cheney. In-state tuition and fees average $8,586, compared with $26,583 for out-of-state students. Finance graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $48,728. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside placed #7 among the best values for finance. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Finance graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $40,040. That is a strong return on a $19,187 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa placed #8 among the best values for finance. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Finance graduates carry a median of $21,460 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $44,594. That is a strong return on a $21,460 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University landed the #9 spot for finance value this year. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $19,762. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $56,947. That is a strong return on a $19,762 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Reno ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,578, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $51,495. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Western Washington University landed the #11 spot for finance value this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,582, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Students borrow a median of $20,610 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $51,984 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,610 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Oregon State University landed the #12 spot for finance value this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $22,041. Finance graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $52,156 early in their careers. Set against $22,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
California Lutheran University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,560. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $22,727. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from California Lutheran University generally make around $80,356. Set against $22,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Ashford University landed the #14 spot for finance value this year. Ashford University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $11,960 in tuition and fees. Finance graduates carry a median of $31,133 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Ashford University generally make around $57,566. Set against $31,133 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Menlo College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Menlo College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Atherton. Students from in state pay about $53,630 in tuition and fees. Finance graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Menlo College generally make around $69,684. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Claremont Mckenna College landed the #16 spot for finance value this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,980 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Claremont Mckenna College generally make around $66,028. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Claremont Mckenna College admits about 10% of applicants.
California Baptist University came in at #17 for value in finance this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,228 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,169 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $51,999 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,169 median debt. California Baptist University admits about 85% of applicants.
Linfield College landed the #18 spot for finance value this year. Set in the town of McMinnville, Linfield College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,736. Finance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $47,517. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
George Fox University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,320. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $25,324. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from George Fox University generally make around $52,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Fox University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of San Diego ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,486 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,508 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $64,819. Set against $23,508 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
National University earned the #21 position for value in finance this year. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,284 in tuition and fees. Finance graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from National University generally make around $69,080. Set against $30,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Southern California landed the #22 spot for finance value this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Finance graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $75,677. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Seattle University placed #23 among the best values for finance. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $56,721 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Seattle University earn a median of $55,823 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Portland ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Finance graduates carry a median of $23,169 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $54,739. That is a strong return on a $23,169 median debt. University Of Portland admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of San Francisco placed #25 among the best values for finance. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,522. Finance graduates carry a median of $24,347 in student loans. Finance graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $64,972 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of San Francisco admits about 62% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Finance Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s finance value ranking:
Narrow Finance Schools by State
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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 · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 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.