---

2026 Best Value Packaging Science Schools in California

[Packaging Science](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/packaging-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong packaging science education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for packaging science students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Packaging Science Schools in California

2026 Best Value Packaging Science Schools in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in packaging science, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Packaging Science Schools

1

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

$8,410 In-State Tuition & Fees

$78,988 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in packaging science, no school beat San Jose State University this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.

2

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA

$12,161 In-State Tuition & Fees

$19,273 Avg Student Debt

$90,768 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the best values for packaging science. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Packaging Science graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans. Packaging Science graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,273 median debt. The acceptance rate is 31%.

View All Packaging Science Rankings >

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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.