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2023 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies in California (With Aid)

16 Ranked Colleges
1,729 Degrees Awarded
$19,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 9,899 people earned their degree in environmental studies, making the major the 87th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 1,729 environmental studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in environmental studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent environmental studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the environmental studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Environmental Studies Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies in California (With Aid)

1

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #1 spot on the list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 359 students in 2020-2021.

UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UC Berkeley is $16,032 for California Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at UC Berkeley

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 80 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Davis is $15,768 for California Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at University of California - Davis

3

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 39 degrees to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Irvine is $12,209 for California Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Environmental Studies at University of California - Irvine

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 377 students in 2020-2021.

UCSB also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $16,252 for California Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UCSB Environmental Studies Report

5
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 83 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.

SDSU also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $13,845 for California Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SDSU Environmental Studies Report

6

University of California - San Diego ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - San Diego is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 83 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.

UCSD also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend University of California - San Diego is $15,240 for california ecosystem studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UCSD Environmental Studies Report

7

California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Seaside, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.

CSUMB also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for CSUMB is $13,597 for California Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at California State University - Monterey Bay

8

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 192 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Cruz is $17,930 for California Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Environmental Studies at University of California - Santa Cruz

9
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

With a ranking of #9, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Arcata, California, and it awarded 24 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Humboldt State University also took the #11 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,956 for california ecosystem studies students with aid per year to attend Humboldt State University.

Full Humboldt State University Environmental Studies Report

10

California State University - East Bay ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal State East Bay also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - East Bay is $13,298 for California Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal State East Bay Environmental Studies Report

11
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Francisco State University is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california ecosystem studies students with aid list, SFSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Francisco State University is $14,459 for california ecosystem studies students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at San Francisco State University

12

California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. CSUSM is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 52 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.

CSUSM also took the #17 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $13,218 for california ecosystem studies students with aid per year to attend CSUSM.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUSM Environmental Studies Report

13
14
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of San Francisco is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 44 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USFCA, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of San Francisco is $40,053 for california ecosystem studies students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at University of San Francisco

15
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.

Oxy not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Occidental College is $34,032 for California Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at Occidental College

16
SCU crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. This medium-sized school is located in Santa Clara, California, and it awarded 26 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.

SCU also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $42,614 for california ecosystem studies students with aid per year to attend SCU.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at SCU

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