2026 Best Value Geochemistry Schools in California
[Geochemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geochemistry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for geochemistry students.
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2026 Best Value Geochemistry Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geochemistry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geochemistry Schools
For return on investment in geochemistry, no school beat University Of California San Diego this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Typical student debt for geochemistry graduates is $17,101. Geochemistry graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in geochemistry will find it at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #2. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the geochemistry program here. Early-career geochemistry graduates make about $63,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
California Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geochemistry, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,898. Geochemistry graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 3%.
More Geochemistry Rankings
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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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
