2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in California
[Geology & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/geology-and-earth-sciences/) 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 111 schools to find the best return on investment for geology & earth sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geology & earth sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geology & Earth Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked California State University Fullerton the best value for a degree in geology & earth sciences in California. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $35,509. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #2 makes California State University Long Beach one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $15,671. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $50,982. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Sacramento one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $15,000. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $49,907. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Stanford University one of the best values for geology & earth sciences. 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. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in geology & earth sciences will find it at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Students borrow a median of $19,375 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $49,406 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,375 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. 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, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $79,645. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value geology & earth sciences schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $38,804. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Merced placed #8 among the best values for geology & earth sciences. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. Students from in state pay about $14,653 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,541. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $18,318. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of California Merced earn a median of $42,071 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Humboldt State University placed #9 among the best values for geology & earth sciences. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, with out-of-state students paying around $20,997. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $20,526. Early-career geology & earth sciences graduates make about $29,476. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Sonoma State University landed the #10 spot for geology & earth sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,624 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,224. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $18,031. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $51,140 early in their careers. Set against $18,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside came in at #11 for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $22,998 early in their careers. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #12 for value in geology & earth sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $21,800. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $30,759. That is a strong return on a $21,800 median debt. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #13 among the best values for geology & earth sciences. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the geology & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis placed #14 among the best values for geology & earth sciences. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $16,416. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $43,462. That is a strong return on a $16,416 median debt. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #15 spot for geology & earth sciences value this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geology & earth sciences graduates is $20,833. Soon after graduation, geology & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $43,362. That is a strong return on a $20,833 median debt. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
California Institute Of Technology placed #16 among the best values for geology & earth sciences. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,898 in tuition and fees. Geology & Earth Sciences graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 3%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 111 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
