2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Far Western Region
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value curriculum & instruction schools.
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2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in curriculum & instruction, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Our analysis ranked California State University Northridge the best value for a degree in curriculum & instruction in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $48,437. That is a strong return on a $16,202 median debt. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
California State University Long Beach came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $81,909 early in their careers. Set against $15,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
California State University San Marcos is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,082, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $17,527. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $48,726. Set against $17,527 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University San Marcos admits about 95% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Nevada Las Vegas one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $21,181 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $58,692. Set against $21,181 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at California State University East Bay, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $18,073. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $58,951 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,073 median debt. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
San Francisco State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $17,024. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $50,955. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University earned the #7 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,475 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $64,503 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #8 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $16,481. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $47,042. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, while out-of-state students pay about $34,218. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $20,577. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $57,473. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. Set against $19,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.
Vanguard University Of Southern California landed the #11 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,700 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $80,727. That is a strong return on a $21,111 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Western Oregon University landed the #12 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Set in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,514, compared with $32,169 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,166 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Western Oregon University generally make around $39,436. That is a strong return on a $24,166 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Pacific placed #13 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,080. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,514. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $60,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Concordia University Irvine earned the #14 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,480. Students borrow a median of $26,085 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of $83,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,085 median debt. Concordia University Irvine admits about 66% of applicants.
La Sierra University placed #15 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Riverside, La Sierra University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,710. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $29,507 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from La Sierra University generally make around $62,077. Set against $29,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of San Diego came in at #16 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,486. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,795. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $57,559 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of San Diego admits about 52% of applicants.
City University Of Seattle placed #17 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. City University Of Seattle is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,929. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of City University Of Seattle earn a median of $70,377 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt.
Chapman University came in at #18 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,984. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $21,657. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $50,947 early in their careers. Set against $21,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Chapman University admits about 65% of applicants.
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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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
