2026 Best Value Biological Physical Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Biological Physical Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 382 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.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Biological Physical Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is Keck Graduate Institute, our #1 best-value Biological Physical Science school in the United States. Keck Graduate Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Claremont, CA. Graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Get the full Keck Graduate Institute report
You'll get strong value at Louisiana Tech University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,125, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. The median Biological Physical Science program debt is $23,846. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,279 ten years after entry. Set against $23,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Louisiana Tech University
A rank of #3 makes Rutgers University New Brunswick one of the best values in the United States. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public school based in New Brunswick, NJ. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete their Biological Physical Science program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $74,479. That is a strong return on a $25,120 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%. Get the full Rutgers University New Brunswick report
Out of the 382 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, George Mason University landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Fairfax, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. George Mason University alumni report median earnings of $76,343 a decade after entry. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. More on George Mason University
College Of William And Mary offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,490 ten years after entry. Set against $18,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 34% of those who apply are admitted. See the full College Of William And Mary profile
University Of Maryland College Park placed #7 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. Set in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete their Biological Physical Science program here. Median earnings reach $82,860 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Rice University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Rice University Biological Physical Science students take on a median of $11,904 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $89,718. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted. See the full Rice University profile
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Located in Dayton, OH, Wright State University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete their Biological Physical Science program here. Wright State University Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $49,500 a decade after entry. Set against $25,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 96% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Wright State University Main Campus profile
University Of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Biological Physical Science schools. Located in Fairbanks, AK, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,083, while out-of-state students pay about $25,892. Graduates carry a median of $23,439 in student loans. Median earnings reach $48,866 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about University Of Alaska Fairbanks
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph placed #10 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. More on Calumet College Of Saint Joseph
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus placed #11 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. Get the full Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus report
Kishwaukee College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Biological Physical Science schools. Read more about Kishwaukee College
New College Of Florida offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read the full report on New College Of Florida
Rutgers University Newark placed #14 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. Read more about Rutgers University Newark
Union College New York placed #15 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. See the full Union College New York profile
College Of Marin
College Of Marin ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Biological Physical Science schools. Read more about College Of Marin
El Camino College Compton Center landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. More on El Camino College Compton Center
Fullerton College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Fullerton College
College Of Lake County offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on College Of Lake County
Folsom Lake College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. More on Folsom Lake College
Brigham Young University Provo placed #21 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. Read more about Brigham Young University Provo
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona profile
Arcadia University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Biological Physical Science schools. Get the full Arcadia University report
Heartland Community College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Heartland Community College report
Montana State University Billings placed #25 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. Get the full Montana State University Billings report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Biological Physical Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Sauk Valley Community College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Sauk Valley Community College
Stony Brook University offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Stony Brook University
Golden West College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on Golden West College
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus placed #29 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of New Hampshire Main Campus profile
American River College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about American River College
Kankakee Community College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Kankakee Community College report
City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Biological Physical Science schools. Read the full report on City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College
Dakota Wesleyan University came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Dakota Wesleyan University report
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Biological Physical Science schools. Read more about Glendale Community College Glendale Ca
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. More on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks
Pennsylvania State University Penn State York landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State York profile
Ventura College
Ventura College landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Ventura College report
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Biological Physical Science schools. Read more about Stephen F Austin State University
Tennessee Wesleyan College placed #39 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. More on Tennessee Wesleyan College
West Valley College came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. See the full West Valley College profile
Eastern Shore Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. More on Eastern Shore Community College
Los Angeles Harbor College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Los Angeles Harbor College report
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College profile
University Of Kansas came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Kansas profile
Wentworth Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Wentworth Institute Of Technology
Adelphi University placed #46 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. Get the full Adelphi University report
Crafton Hills College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Crafton Hills College
Rend Lake College placed #48 among the best-value Biological Physical Science schools in the United States. More on Rend Lake College
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Biological Physical Science schools. Read more about University Of Illinois At Chicago
Virginia Highlands Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. See the full Virginia Highlands Community College profile
Related Biological Physical Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Biological Physical Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Biological Physical Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Biological Physical Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Biological Physical Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Biological Physical Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Biological Physical Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Biological Physical Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 382 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).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.