2026 Best Value Natural Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Natural Sciences doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 157 colleges 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 arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile 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 Natural Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Virginia Commonwealth University this year in the United States. Set in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete their Natural Sciences program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,128 ten years after entry. Set against $23,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Commonwealth University has an acceptance rate of 93%. Read more about Virginia Commonwealth University
Out of the 157 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Arizona landed the #2 spot. Based in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. University Of Arizona alumni report median earnings of $59,979 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%. See the full University Of Arizona profile
Out of the 157 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs landed the #3 spot. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a public school based in Colorado Springs, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $10,906, while out-of-state students pay about $25,039. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs Natural Sciences students take on a median of $23,559 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs has an acceptance rate of 97%. Read the full report on University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs
You'll get strong value at California State University Bakersfield, which ranked #4 this year. More on California State University Bakersfield
You'll get strong value at Erie Community College, which ranked #5 this year. Read the full report on Erie Community College
Central College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. Get the full Central College report
Concordia University Wisconsin ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. Read more about Concordia University Wisconsin
Augustana College South Dakota ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. Read the full report on Augustana College South Dakota
Mohave Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Read the full report on Mohave Community College
North Central College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Get the full North Central College report
Hawaii Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Read the full report on Hawaii Community College
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #13 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. More on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Concordia College At Moorhead came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Concordia College At Moorhead report
Henderson State University landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Henderson State University report
National Park Community College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full National Park Community College profile
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Missouri Kansas City report
University Of Puerto Rico Cayey offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full University Of Puerto Rico Cayey report
Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas placed #19 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #20 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
Bard College At Simons Rock came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on Bard College At Simons Rock
Chandler Gilbert Community College placed #22 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. More on Chandler Gilbert Community College
Suny College At Plattsburgh came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Suny College At Plattsburgh report
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Estrella Mountain Community College report
Gannon University placed #25 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Gannon University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Natural Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Pepperdine University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Pepperdine University
Colgate University placed #27 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Colgate University
Dominican University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on Dominican University
Indiana University East ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. More on Indiana University East
Wagner College
Wagner College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. Read more about Wagner College
Juniata College
Juniata College offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. See the full Juniata College profile
The University Of Texas At Brownsville offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. More on The University Of Texas At Brownsville
Honolulu Community College placed #33 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Honolulu Community College profile
Ohio State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. More on Ohio State University Main Campus
Spalding University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. Read more about Spalding University
University Of Science And Arts Of Oklahoma placed #36 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Science And Arts Of Oklahoma
Inver Hills Community College placed #37 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Inver Hills Community College
College Of The Mainland placed #38 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. More on College Of The Mainland
Universidad Del Turabo placed #39 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Universidad Del Turabo report
College Of Saint Benedict came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on College Of Saint Benedict
Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. Read more about Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro
University Of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. More on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
Arizona State University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. More on Arizona State University
Ramapo College Of New Jersey offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Ramapo College Of New Jersey report
Hiram College
Hiram College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Hiram College
Logan University
Logan University placed #47 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Logan University report
Northwest State Community College landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Northwest State Community College
Kapiolani Community College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Kapiolani Community College profile
Western Wyoming Community College landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Western Wyoming Community College report
Related Natural Sciences Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Natural Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Natural Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Natural Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Natural Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Natural Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Natural Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Natural Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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 157 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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