2026 Best Value Engineering Science Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering Science Schools
University Of California San Diego earned the #1 spot for value among engineering science schools in the Far Western Region. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete the engineering science program here. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $60,797. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for engineering science. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering science, landing the #3 spot this year. 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. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $19,273. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $61,010. That is a strong return on a $19,273 median debt. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Engineering Science Schools by State
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 · 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.
[Engineering Science](/majors/engineering/engineering-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
