2026 Best Value Behavioral Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Behavioral Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 145 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Behavioral Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year in the United States. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school based in Chapel Hill, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $72,200. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Out of the 145 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #2 spot. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete their Behavioral Science program here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus alumni report median earnings of $78,466 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. About 39% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
You'll get strong value at University Of Kansas, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. The median Behavioral Science program debt is $25,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $61,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants. Get the full University Of Kansas report
Out of the 145 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Colorado Denver landed the #4 spot. Based in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete their Behavioral Science program here. University Of Colorado Denver alumni report median earnings of $64,270 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 75% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Colorado Denver
You'll get strong value at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Median earnings reach $114,862 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants. Read the full report on Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Iowa ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Set in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. The median Behavioral Science program debt is $24,463. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,762. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 84% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Iowa
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #7 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. The median Behavioral Science program debt is $23,258. Median earnings reach $102,491 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Washington University In St Louis landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Typical Behavioral Science student debt is $17,553. Median earnings reach $86,182 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington University In St Louis has an acceptance rate of 12%. See the full Washington University In St Louis profile
University Of Maine landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Orono, ME. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Graduates carry a median of $25,984 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,653. That is a strong return on a $25,984 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of Maine profile
Mohave Community College placed #10 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Get the full Mohave Community College report
San Jose State University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full San Jose State University report
Chaminade University Of Honolulu offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Read the full report on Chaminade University Of Honolulu
Mount Aloysius College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Mount Aloysius College
Teachers College At Columbia University landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Teachers College At Columbia University
Elizabethtown College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Get the full Elizabethtown College report
Life Pacific College placed #16 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Life Pacific College
City College Of San Francisco landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. More on City College Of San Francisco
Freed Hardeman University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Read more about Freed Hardeman University
Felician College
Felician College placed #19 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. More on Felician College
Indiana State University offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. More on Indiana State University
Columbia College South Carolina landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Columbia College South Carolina report
Western Illinois University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. More on Western Illinois University
University Of Maine At Fort Kent placed #23 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Maine At Fort Kent profile
University Of Michigan Dearborn offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. More on University Of Michigan Dearborn
Missouri Baptist University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Missouri Baptist University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Behavioral Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Granite State College placed #27 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. See the full Granite State College profile
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Houston Clear Lake report
University Of Chicago placed #29 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Chicago profile
Moorpark College
Moorpark College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Moorpark College report
Capital Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. See the full Capital Community College profile
Martin Methodist College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Martin Methodist College report
American River College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read more about American River College
Duke University
Duke University placed #34 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Duke University
Yale University
Yale University landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Yale University
Northern Arizona University came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Northern Arizona University
Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #37 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. More on Saint Louis University Main Campus
Sisseton Wahpeton College placed #38 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Get the full Sisseton Wahpeton College report
University Of Southern California offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Concordia University Seward offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Concordia University Seward report
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
College Of Mount St Joseph offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full College Of Mount St Joseph report
Harvard University landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Harvard University profile
Loyola University Chicago landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Loyola University Chicago report
Concordia University Irvine offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Concordia University Irvine
Purdue University Northwest ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. See the full Purdue University Northwest profile
University Of Baltimore ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Baltimore
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Saint Francis University landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Saint Francis University
Pace University New York landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Pace University New York
Related Behavioral Science Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Behavioral Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Behavioral Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 145 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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