2026 Best Value Medicine Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in medicine, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Medicine Schools
Leading the list is University Of California San Diego, our #1 best value for medicine 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. Medicine graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $67,163. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Stanford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in medicine, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the medicine program here. Early-career medicine graduates make about $79,753. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Nevada Las Vegas one of the best values for medicine. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Medicine graduates carry a median of $21,181 in student loans. Medicine graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $50,039 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values for medicine. 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. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $16,539. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $71,598. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value medicine schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the medicine program here. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $67,261. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa placed #6 among the best values for medicine. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,218. Medicine graduates carry a median of $20,577 in student loans. Medicine graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $68,761 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,577 median debt. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside came in at #7 for value in medicine this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Medicine graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Medicine graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $67,270 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #8 among the best values for medicine. 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. Medicine graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $74,916. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Washington State University earned the #9 position for value in medicine this year. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,391 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,903 to complete the medicine program here. Medicine graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $54,697 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,903 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis earned the #10 position for value in medicine this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Typical student debt for medicine graduates is $14,404. Medicine graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $72,848 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Reno landed the #11 spot for medicine value this year. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. Students from in state pay about $9,578 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Medicine graduates carry a median of $19,918 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medicine degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $65,809. Set against $19,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nevada Reno admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Southern California landed the #12 spot for medicine value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Medicine graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Early-career medicine graduates make about $75,814. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Narrow Medicine 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
[Medicine](/majors/health-care-professions/medicine/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
