Best value colleges in the West in California
Colleges in the West with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price after aid, earnings and debt.
Best value colleges in the West in California59 schools
59 schools qualify, ranked by Value. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in California.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- In the West (U.S. Census Bureau region).
- Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Value, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $13,807 a year
- 2
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $12,548 a year
- 3
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $13,481 a year
- 4
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $12,470 a year
- 5
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $14,741 a year
- 6Tie
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $14,251 a year
- 6Tie
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $10,440 a year
- 8
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $16,109 a year
- 9
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $19,285 a year
- 10
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · PublicTop 20% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $11,983 a year
- 11
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · PublicTop 13% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $14,304 a year
- 12
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $16,665 a year
- 13
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $15,364 a year
- 14
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- Net price $17,890 a year
- 15
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- Net price $18,260 a year
- 16
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- Net price $28,849 a year
- 17
California State University Maritime Academy
Vallejo, CA · PublicTop 3% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- Net price $20,555 a year
- 18
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- Net price $25,447 a year
- 19
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- Net price $21,413 a year
- 20
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 36%
- Net price $22,212 a year
- 21
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- Net price $32,740 a year
- 22
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- Net price $36,294 a year
- 23
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- Value grade B
- Net price $30,365 a year
- 24Tie
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · Private nonprofitTop 8% for earnings
- Value grade B
- Net price $30,378 a year
- 24Tie
Pacific College
Costa Mesa, CA · Private for-profitTop 15% for earnings
- Value grade B
- Net price $29,363 a year
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | About $14,000 | $12,000 | $124,080 | 92% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | About $13,000 | $14,000 | $82,511 | 93% |
| University of California-Berkeley | About $13,000 | $13,000 | $92,446 | 93% |
| University of California-San Diego | About $12,000 | $15,500 | $84,943 | 86% |
| University of California-Davis | About $15,000 | $13,000 | $80,838 | 86% |
| University of California-Irvine | About $14,000 | $15,000 | $80,735 | 87% |
| California State University-Long Beach | About $10,000 | $14,289 | $64,403 | 69% |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | About $16,000 | $13,993 | $74,915 | 83% |
| Pomona College | About $19,000 | $11,782 | $77,779 | 93% |
| University of California-Merced | About $12,000 | $16,144 | $64,368 | 69% |
| University of California-Riverside | About $14,000 | $17,500 | $67,699 | 76% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | About $17,000 | $18,500 | $90,768 | 86% |
| San Diego State University | About $15,000 | $15,000 | $64,909 | 76% |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | About $18,000 | $16,666 | $68,396 | 75% |
| Soka University of America | About $18,000 | $15,650 | $55,017 | 92% |
| Claremont McKenna College | About $29,000 | $13,500 | $104,736 | 91% |
| California State University Maritime Academy | About $21,000 | $24,965 | $94,784 | 60% |
| University of the Pacific | About $25,000 | $19,500 | $78,445 | 69% |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | About $21,000 | $25,949 | $72,379 | 53% |
| Azusa Pacific University | About $22,000 | $23,219 | $66,677 | 62% |
| University of Southern California | About $33,000 | $18,000 | $92,498 | 92% |
| Scripps College | About $36,000 | $13,500 | $77,539 | 83% |
| University of San Diego | About $30,000 | $22,940 | $86,522 | 84% |
| Saint Mary's College of California | About $30,000 | $23,691 | $78,812 | 70% |
| Pacific College | About $29,000 | $22,469 | $70,064 | 63% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.