2026 Best Value Philosophy Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in philosophy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Philosophy Schools
Our analysis ranked Moorpark College the best value for a degree in philosophy in California. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value philosophy schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in philosophy, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Los Angeles earned it the #4 place for philosophy. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $14,430. Philosophy graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $48,403 early in their careers. Set against $14,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value philosophy schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fullerton ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value philosophy schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $30,171. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
El Camino Community College District landed the #7 spot for philosophy value this year. Set in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,144, while out-of-state students pay about $7,630. Median earnings reach $41,589 ten years out.
California State University Fresno came in at #8 for value in philosophy this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $20,354 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
California State University Northridge earned the #9 position for value in philosophy this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $20,822 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Long Beach came in at #10 for value in philosophy this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $19,281 to complete the philosophy program here. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $50,982. That is a strong return on a $19,281 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Santa Barbara City College came in at #11 for value in philosophy this year. Santa Barbara City College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Barbara. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,240, while out-of-state students pay about $10,432. Students borrow a median of $21,090 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of Santa Barbara City College earn a median of $68,184 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fullerton College earned the #12 position for value in philosophy this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,151, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,366 ten years out.
Stanford University earned the #13 position for value in philosophy this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $10,492. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
California State University Sacramento came in at #14 for value in philosophy this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $15,034 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $29,326 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,034 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #15 spot for philosophy value this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,781, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $17,226 in student loans. Philosophy graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $49,427 early in their careers. Set against $17,226 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Los Angeles Valley College earned the #16 position for value in philosophy this year. Los Angeles Valley College is a very large public school located in the city of Valley Glen. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $10,254. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $81,600. Set against $10,254 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of California San Diego came in at #17 for value in philosophy this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $15,832. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $24,669. Set against $15,832 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of California Irvine placed #18 among the best values for philosophy. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,705 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $20,922 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University placed #19 among the best values for philosophy. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
San Francisco State University landed the #20 spot for philosophy value this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Students from in state pay about $7,846 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $18,000. Philosophy graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $28,539 early in their careers. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Sonoma State University earned the #21 position for value in philosophy this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,624 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,224. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the philosophy program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $51,140. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of California Riverside ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value philosophy schools. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,022 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $25,171 early in their careers. Set against $19,022 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #23 position for value in philosophy this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the philosophy program here. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $25,303. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #24 for value in philosophy this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $15,000. Philosophy graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $30,182 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Berkeley landed the #25 spot for philosophy value this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for philosophy graduates is $14,475. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $36,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Philosophy Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s philosophy value ranking:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 144 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) 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.
