2026 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the applied economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Applied Economics Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of California Los Angeles the best value for a degree in applied economics in California. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Cruz earned it the #2 place for applied economics. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $18,017 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $40,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
[Applied Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/applied-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied economics education at a price that pays off.
