2026 Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools in California
[Industrial & Organizational Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/industrial-and-organizational-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong industrial & organizational psychology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial & organizational psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial & organizational psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools
For return on investment in industrial & organizational psychology, no school beat California State University San Bernardino this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. In-state tuition and fees average $8,088, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,958 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $47,204 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,958 median debt. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Sacramento earned it the #2 place for industrial & organizational psychology. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $17,492. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $49,907. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
San Jose State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial & organizational psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in industrial & organizational psychology will find it at Touro University Worldwide, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Los Alamitos, Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $14,640 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,289 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Touro University Worldwide generally make around $61,331. That is a strong return on a $32,289 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanguard University Of Southern California earned it the #5 place for industrial & organizational psychology. Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,700. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Vanguard University Of Southern California earn a median of $80,727 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,111 median debt. Vanguard University Of Southern California admits about 62% of applicants.
California Baptist University came in at #6 for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,228. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $28,169. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $55,299 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,169 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Irvine placed #7 among the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Set in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $43,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,085 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $42,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Pepperdine University landed the #8 spot for industrial & organizational psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,918 in tuition and fees. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,645 in student loans. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $67,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 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.
