College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Engineering Physics Schools in California

1 Colleges in the United States
$19,773 Avg Student Debt
$92,597 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Engineering Physics Badge [Engineering Physics](/majors/engineering/engineering-physics/) 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 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value engineering physics schools.

What’s on this page:

2026 Best Value Engineering Physics Schools in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering physics, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Engineering Physics Schools

1

University Of California Berkeley earned the #1 spot for value among engineering physics schools in California. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Engineering Physics graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Early-career engineering physics graduates make about $70,847. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.

2

California Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering physics schools. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $65,898 in tuition and fees. Early-career engineering physics graduates make about $173,344. Roughly 3% of applicants are accepted.

3
Biola University crest
Biola University
La Mirada, CA

Biola University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering physics schools. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,984. Students borrow a median of $25,308 to complete the engineering physics program here. Soon after graduation, engineering physics degree recipients from Biola University generally make around $45,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.

View All Engineering Physics Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options