2026 Best Value Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools in California

[Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/pharmacy-pharmaceutical-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools
For return on investment in pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences, no school beat University Of California San Diego this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences graduates is $17,101. Soon after graduation, pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $113,226. That is a strong return on a $17,101 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Irvine earned it the #2 place for pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences. 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 $15,026 to complete the pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $20,538. That is a strong return on a $15,026 median debt. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
University Of California Davis came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $13,470 to complete the pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $40,002. That is a strong return on a $13,470 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of The Pacific earned it the #4 place for pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,514 to complete the pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $113,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Students looking for strong value in pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences will find it at University Of Southern California, which ranked #5. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences graduates is $15,625. Soon after graduation, pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $114,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Chapman University placed #6 among the best values for pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,984. Typical student debt for pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences graduates is $21,657. Pharmacy/pharmaceutical Sciences graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $78,465 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,657 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.