2026 Best Value Materials Sciences Schools in California
[Materials Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/materials-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value materials sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Materials Sciences Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in materials sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Materials Sciences Schools
University Of California Riverside earned the #1 spot for value among materials sciences schools in California. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete the materials sciences program here. Soon after graduation, materials sciences degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $40,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in materials sciences will find it at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Students borrow a median of $15,501 to complete the materials sciences program here. Early-career materials sciences graduates make about $45,488. Set against $15,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 33%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for materials sciences. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for materials sciences graduates is $14,238. Soon after graduation, materials sciences degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
More Materials Sciences Rankings
View All Materials Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
