2026 Best Value Geography Schools in the Far Western Region
[Geography](/majors/social-sciences/geography-and-cartography/geography/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geography education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 109 schools to find the best return on investment for geography students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Geography Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in geography, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Geography Schools
San Diego Mesa College earned the #1 spot for value among geography schools in the Far Western Region. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the geography program here. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saddleback College earned it the #2 place for geography. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the geography program here. Geography graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Pasadena City College one of the best values for geography. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the geography program here. Early-career geography graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $14,430. Geography graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $33,727 early in their careers. Set against $14,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
American River College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. Set against $14,105 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fullerton earned the #6 position for value in geography this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $15,525. Geography graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $26,040 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Palomar College earned the #7 position for value in geography this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, while out-of-state students pay about $10,650. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
California State University Northridge earned the #8 position for value in geography this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $8,250. Geography graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $27,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Foothill College landed the #9 spot for geography value this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, with out-of-state students paying around $12,590. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $11,595. Early-career geography graduates make about $94,152. That is a strong return on a $11,595 median debt.
City College Of San Francisco landed the #10 spot for geography value this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,696 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,656 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $100,031. That is a strong return on a $10,332 median debt.
California State University Long Beach placed #11 among the best values for geography. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Geography graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $52,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento landed the #12 spot for geography value this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Geography graduates carry a median of $15,881 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $48,227. That is a strong return on a $15,881 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Santa Barbara City College landed the #13 spot for geography value this year. Santa Barbara City College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Barbara. Students from in state pay about $1,240 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,432. Geography graduates carry a median of $21,090 in student loans. Geography graduates of Santa Barbara City College earn a median of $68,184 early in their careers. Set against $21,090 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #14 spot for geography value this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Students borrow a median of $15,826 to complete the geography program here. Early-career geography graduates make about $35,426. Set against $15,826 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University placed #15 among the best values for geography. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $13,768. Geography graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $24,875 early in their careers. Set against $13,768 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Portland State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the geography program here. Early-career geography graduates make about $51,188. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #17 spot for geography value this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $17,504. Early-career geography graduates make about $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Eastern Washington University placed #18 among the best values for geography. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,586, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Students borrow a median of $21,754 to complete the geography program here. Early-career geography graduates make about $47,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hawaii At Hilo placed #19 among the best values for geography. Located in the town of Hilo, University Of Hawaii At Hilo is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,798. Typical student debt for geography graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Hilo generally make around $30,293. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Humboldt State University came in at #20 for value in geography this year. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,397, while out-of-state students pay about $20,997. Geography graduates carry a median of $17,412 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $27,355. That is a strong return on a $17,412 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value geography schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Geography graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Geography graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $37,398 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
Sonoma State University placed #22 among the best values for geography. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,624 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,224. Geography graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Geography graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $40,614 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sonoma State University admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #23 for value in geography this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Students borrow a median of $13,969 to complete the geography program here. Early-career geography graduates make about $36,776. Set against $13,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis placed #24 among the best values for geography. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete the geography program here. Soon after graduation, geography degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Reno came in at #25 for value in geography this year. Located in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,578, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Geography graduates carry a median of $19,918 in student loans. Early-career geography graduates make about $53,079. That is a strong return on a $19,918 median debt. University Of Nevada Reno admits about 74% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value Geography Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s geography value ranking:
Narrow Geography Schools by State
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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 · 109 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
