2027 Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools in the Far Western Region

[Sustainability Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/sustainability-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for sustainability studies students.
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2027 Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sustainability studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools
For return on investment in sustainability studies, no school beat University Of California Berkeley this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the sustainability studies program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $75,703. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
Stanford University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value sustainability studies schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sustainability studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Students borrow a median of $20,045 to complete the sustainability studies program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $30,698. That is a strong return on a $20,045 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oregon State University earned it the #4 place for sustainability studies. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $24,041 to complete the sustainability studies program here. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $51,326. Set against $24,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Western Washington University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value sustainability studies schools. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,582 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $19,086. Sustainability Studies graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $41,600 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,086 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California placed #6 among the best values for sustainability studies. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $15,625. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $75,677. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Pepperdine University landed the #7 spot for sustainability studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,918. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $23,645. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $57,582. That is a strong return on a $23,645 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 7 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.