2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in California
[Geological & Earth Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-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.
College Factual analyzed 115 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value geological & earth sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geological & earth sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geological & Earth Sciences Schools
For return on investment in geological & earth sciences, no school beat California State University Fullerton this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $15,125. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $35,509. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
California State University Long Beach is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $15,671. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $50,982 early in their careers. Set against $15,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Sacramento is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geological & earth sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $49,907. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
Stanford University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. 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. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #5 makes California State Polytechnic University Pomona one of the best values for geological & earth sciences. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,375 in student loans. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $49,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of California San Diego ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $17,101. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $79,645. That is a strong return on a $17,101 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of California Irvine came in at #7 for value in geological & earth sciences this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $38,804. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Merced ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,653, while out-of-state students pay about $46,541. Students borrow a median of $18,318 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from University Of California Merced generally make around $42,071. Set against $18,318 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Merced admits about 90% of applicants.
Humboldt State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, compared with $20,997 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $20,526. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of $29,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Humboldt State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Sonoma State University placed #10 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,624, with out-of-state students paying around $21,224. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $18,031. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $51,140. Set against $18,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #11 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the geological & earth sciences program here. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #12 among the best values for geological & earth sciences. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $21,800. Soon after graduation, geological & 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. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.
University Of California Riverside ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value geological & earth sciences schools. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $19,187. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $22,998 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California Davis came in at #14 for value in geological & earth sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $16,416. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $43,462. That is a strong return on a $16,416 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #15 spot for geological & earth sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Typical student debt for geological & earth sciences graduates is $15,000. Early-career geological & earth sciences graduates make about $48,489. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 31%.
University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #16 position for value in geological & earth sciences this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Geological & Earth Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geological & 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. The acceptance rate is 66%.
California Institute Of Technology came in at #17 for value in geological & earth sciences this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,898. Soon after graduation, geological & earth sciences degree recipients from California Institute Of Technology generally make around $173,344. California Institute Of Technology admits about 3% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 115 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
