2026 Best Value Actuarial Science Schools in California
[Actuarial Science](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong actuarial science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for actuarial science students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Actuarial Science Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the actuarial science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Actuarial Science Schools
University Of California Riverside earned the #1 spot for value among actuarial science schools in California. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $55,862. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara is a great value for students pursuing a degree in actuarial science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $11,128 in student loans. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $66,099. That is a strong return on a $11,128 median debt. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #3 place for actuarial science. 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, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Actuarial Science graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $169,099 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for actuarial science. 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. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Actuarial Science graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
More Actuarial Science Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
