2027 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western Region
[Physical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 135 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value physical sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
Leading the list is Moorpark College, our #1 best value for physical sciences in the Far Western Region. 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. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $17,075. Physical Sciences graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
College Of San Mateo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the physical sciences program here. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in physical sciences will find it at Skyline College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Students looking for strong value in physical sciences will find it at Oxnard College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Santiago Canyon College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Santiago Canyon College is a very large public school located in the city of Orange. Students from in state pay about $1,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Los Angeles placed #6 among the best values for physical sciences. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $44,944. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Irvine Valley College placed #7 among the best values for physical sciences. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the physical sciences program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University San Bernardino landed the #9 spot for physical sciences value this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,553 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $43,723. That is a strong return on a $16,553 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Pasadena City College landed the #10 spot for physical sciences value this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons came in at #11 for value in physical sciences this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College landed the #12 spot for physical sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Santa Ana College placed #13 among the best values for physical sciences. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $11,196. Physical Sciences graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
West Valley College came in at #14 for value in physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,320. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $14,308. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Modesto Junior College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $36,525 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,575 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias landed the #16 spot for physical sciences value this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $37,749. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cypress College earned the #17 position for value in physical sciences this year. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
Saddleback College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hartnell College landed the #19 spot for physical sciences value this year. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $35,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College placed #20 among the best values for physical sciences. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $65,168. That is a strong return on a $6,382 median debt.
Golden West College came in at #21 for value in physical sciences this year. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. Students from in state pay about $1,380 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Fullerton earned the #22 position for value in physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,583 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $42,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge came in at #23 for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $16,202. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $44,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
Solano Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. In-state tuition and fees average $1,172, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,170. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Clovis Community College Fresno placed #25 among the best values for physical sciences. Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for physical sciences this year:
Narrow Physical Sciences Schools by State
More Physical Sciences Rankings
View All Physical Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 135 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 135 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.
