2026 Best Value Human Computer Interaction Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the human computer interaction degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Human Computer Interaction Schools
For return on investment in human computer interaction, no school beat University Of California Irvine this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for human computer interaction graduates is $16,539. Human Computer Interaction graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $123,979 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
San Jose State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human computer interaction schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Cruz earned it the #3 place for human computer interaction. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Human Computer Interaction graduates carry a median of $18,559 in student loans. Early-career human computer interaction graduates make about $40,920. Set against $18,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
California College Of The Arts came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value human computer interaction schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $60,226 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,125 to complete the human computer interaction program here. Human Computer Interaction graduates of California College Of The Arts earn a median of $101,801 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California College Of The Arts admits about 91% of applicants.
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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
[Human Computer Interaction](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/human-computer-interaction/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human computer interaction education at a price that pays off.
