2027 Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools in California

[Sustainability Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/sustainability-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value sustainability studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sustainability studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2027 list of the best value sustainability studies schools in California. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Sustainability Studies graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $75,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Students looking for strong value in sustainability studies will find it at Stanford University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $10,492. Sustainability Studies graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Riverside one of the best values for sustainability studies. 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. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $20,045. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $30,698 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,045 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the best values for sustainability studies. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $15,625. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Pepperdine University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in sustainability studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
More Sustainability Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.