2026 Best Value Marine Science Schools in California
[Marine Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/marine-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong marine science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for marine science students.
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2026 Best Value Marine Science Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in marine science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Marine Science Schools
San Francisco State University tops our 2026 list of the best value marine science schools in California. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marine science graduates is $17,024. Soon after graduation, marine science degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $50,955. Set against $17,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
California State University Monterey Bay is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marine science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,779 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,379 for out-of-state students. Marine Science graduates carry a median of $17,800 in student loans. Early-career marine science graduates make about $27,268. Set against $17,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Monterey Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of California Davis came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value marine science schools. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Marine Science graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Marine Science graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marine science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Marine Science graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans. Early-career marine science graduates make about $27,337. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% 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 · 7 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.
