2026 Best Value Chinese Language & Literature Schools in the Far Western Region
[Chinese Language & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/east-asian-languages/chinese-language-literature/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for chinese language & literature students.
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2026 Best Value Chinese Language & Literature Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the chinese language & literature degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Chinese Language & Literature Schools
For return on investment in chinese language & literature, no school beat San Diego Mesa College this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chinese language & literature graduates is $6,999. Early-career chinese language & literature graduates make about $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in chinese language & literature will find it at Irvine Valley College, which ranked #2. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Typical student debt for chinese language & literature graduates is $6,672. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Pasadena City College one of the best values for chinese language & literature. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the chinese language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, chinese language & literature degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in chinese language & literature will find it at Diablo Valley College, which ranked #4. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Students from in state pay about $1,312 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Chinese Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chinese language & literature degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. That is a strong return on a $9,205 median debt.
University Of California Irvine came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value chinese language & literature schools. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete the chinese language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, chinese language & literature degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
City College Of San Francisco came in at #6 for value in chinese language & literature this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,696, while out-of-state students pay about $14,656. Chinese Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Chinese Language & Literature graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Los Angeles City College came in at #7 for value in chinese language & literature this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Chinese Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $10,763 in student loans. Chinese Language & Literature graduates of Los Angeles City College earn a median of $83,699 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,763 median debt.
San Francisco State University placed #8 among the best values for chinese language & literature. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Chinese Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $14,108 in student loans. Early-career chinese language & literature graduates make about $19,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #9 for value in chinese language & literature this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Students borrow a median of $18,076 to complete the chinese language & literature program here. Chinese Language & Literature graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $24,451 early in their careers. Set against $18,076 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #10 position for value in chinese language & literature this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Chinese Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Chinese Language & Literature graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
San Jose State University came in at #11 for value in chinese language & literature this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value chinese language & literature schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Chinese Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $13,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chinese language & literature degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $23,980. That is a strong return on a $13,900 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #13 position for value in chinese language & literature this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Chinese Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Chinese Language & Literature 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. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of California Davis came in at #14 for value in chinese language & literature this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Chinese Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans. Chinese Language & Literature graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $28,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Western Washington University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value chinese language & literature schools. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,582, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Chinese Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $20,361 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chinese language & literature degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $41,118. That is a strong return on a $20,361 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
