2026 Best Value Forensic Psychology Schools in California
[Forensic Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/forensic-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value forensic psychology schools.
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2026 Best Value Forensic Psychology Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the forensic psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Forensic Psychology Schools
Our analysis ranked California State University Fresno the best value for a degree in forensic psychology in California. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Forensic Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans. Forensic Psychology graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $49,502 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,598 median debt. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values for forensic psychology. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Forensic Psychology graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Forensic Psychology graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $45,403 early in their careers. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Touro University Worldwide is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forensic psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Los Alamitos, Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,640. Students borrow a median of $32,289 to complete the forensic psychology program here. Early-career forensic psychology graduates make about $61,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California Baptist University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value forensic psychology schools. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. In-state tuition and fees average $41,228. Forensic Psychology graduates carry a median of $28,169 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forensic psychology degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $55,299. Set against $28,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
