Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work
Criminal justice Ranked #7 of 379 for value Criminal Justice and Corrections · 176 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $63,764
Ranked-college median: $55,481 Median debt $15,000
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 83 of 100 · #4 of 18 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 88th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 88th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 95th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 45th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $16,222) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 24% of earnings
Best colleges for criminal justice
Biology Ranked #10 of 680 for value Biology, General · 339 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $74,204
Ranked-college median: $58,001 Median debt $15,000
Ranked-college median: $20,717 Value score 82.7 of 100 · #4 of 44 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 93th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 90th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 95th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 25th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 20% of earnings
Best colleges for biology
Nursing Ranked #16 of 686 for value Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 182 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $150,102
Ranked-college median: $85,171 Median debt $13,331
Ranked-college median: $20,938 Value score 87.3 of 100 · #13 of 33 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 100th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 89th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 99th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 36th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 9% of earnings
Best colleges for nursing
Education Ranked #17 of 521 for value Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 210 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $59,993
Ranked-college median: $48,822 Median debt $12,500
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 83.8 of 100 · #3 of 15 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 92th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 90th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 97th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 33th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 21% of earnings
Best colleges for education
Electrical engineering Ranked #27 of 184 for value Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 33 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $112,454
Ranked-college median: $99,787 Median debt $19,178
Ranked-college median: $20,732 Value score 73.5 of 100 · #11 of 20 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 87th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 87th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 77th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 9th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $16,125) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 17% of earnings
Best colleges for electrical engineering
Kinesiology and exercise science Ranked #28 of 459 for value Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 144 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $59,056
Ranked-college median: $53,707 Median debt $13,500
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 78.1 of 100 · #7 of 28 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 78th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 92th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 96th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 32th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $18,314) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 23% of earnings
Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise science
Communications Ranked #29 of 388 for value Communication and Media Studies · 211 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $63,731
Ranked-college median: $56,130 Median debt $15,000
Ranked-college median: $19,593 Value score 75.9 of 100 · #8 of 32 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 80th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 90th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 89th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 23th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 24% of earnings
Best colleges for communications
Mechanical engineering Ranked #32 of 276 for value Mechanical Engineering · 72 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $102,104
Ranked-college median: $91,366 Median debt $18,500
Ranked-college median: $20,713 Value score 76.4 of 100 · #13 of 27 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 91th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 92th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 79th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 11th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $17,379) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 18% of earnings
Ranked just above: CUNY City College (#31) Ranked just below: Cornell University-New York (#33) Best colleges for mechanical engineering
Civil engineering Ranked #42 of 181 for value Civil Engineering · 61 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $90,894
Ranked-college median: $85,627 Median debt $21,250
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 65.3 of 100 · #18 of 20 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 76th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 91th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 56th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 6th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $17,058) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 23% of earnings
Best colleges for civil engineering
Engineering Ranked #44 of 327 for value Mechanical Engineering · 72 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $102,104
Ranked-college median: $91,742 Median debt $18,500
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 74 of 100 · #16 of 33 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 84th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 91th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 78th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 13th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $17,499) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 18% of earnings
Best colleges for engineering
Psychology Ranked #51 of 814 for value Psychology, General · 452 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $55,902
Ranked-college median: $51,007 Median debt $13,250
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 76.4 of 100 · #8 of 56 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 76th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 91th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 94th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 30th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 24% of earnings
Ranked just above: Stony Brook University (#50) Ranked just below: Cornell University-New York (#52) Best colleges for psychology
Business Ranked #74 of 986 for value Business Administration, Management and Operations · 980 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $73,775
Ranked-college median: $64,860 Median debt $16,624
Ranked-college median: $21,375 Value score 76.2 of 100 · #13 of 50 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 77th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 90th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 88th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 38th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 23% of earnings
Best colleges for business
Mathematics Ranked #86 of 208 for value Mathematics · 35 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $71,323
Ranked-college median: $71,273 Median debt $16,750
Ranked-college median: $18,563 Value score 53.8 of 100 · #13 of 27 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 50th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 87th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 53th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 9th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $17,049) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 24% of earnings
Best colleges for mathematics
Computer engineering Ranked #94 of 126 for value Computer Engineering · 37 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $94,129
Ranked-college median: $109,085 Median debt $21,000
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 34.7 of 100 · #18 of 19 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 14th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 90th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 29th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 6th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $16,270) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 22% of earnings
Best colleges for computer engineering
Computer science Ranked #100 of 466 for value Computer Science · 369 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $105,166
Ranked-college median: $97,375 Median debt $17,062
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 64.9 of 100 · #24 of 41 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 63th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 88th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 71th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 23th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 16% of earnings
Best colleges for computer science
Economics Ranked #108 of 243 for value Economics · 56 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $82,697
Ranked-college median: $83,880 Median debt $18,750
Ranked-college median: $18,500 Value score 50 of 100 · #18 of 30 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 46th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 92th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 40th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 5th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $21,142) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 23% of earnings
Best colleges for economics
Political science Ranked #120 of 388 for value Political Science and Government · 114 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $61,915
Ranked-college median: $63,181 Median debt $13,773
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 58.7 of 100 · #20 of 38 in California
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 45th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 91th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 83th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 10th percentile
Average net price $9,803 (median $18,238) · graduation rate 50.3% · debt is 22% of earnings
Ranked just above: Amherst College (#119) Ranked just below: University of Colorado Boulder (#121) Best colleges for political science 
