2026 Best Value Natural Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Natural Sciences master’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 157 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on 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 produce 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Northeastern State University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Tahlequah, OK. In-state tuition and fees average $7,810, compared with $17,290 for out-of-state students. Northeastern State University Natural Sciences students take on a median of $23,465 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,379 ten years after entry. Set against $23,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern State University admits about 100% of applicants. Get the full Northeastern State University report
You'll get strong value at The University Of Texas At El Paso, which ranked #2 this year. Based in El Paso, TX, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,544, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,819 to complete their Natural Sciences program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,923 ten years after entry. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At El Paso
A rank of #3 makes Missouri State University Springfield one of the best values in the United States. Set in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Missouri State University Springfield alumni report median earnings of $49,827 a decade after entry. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Missouri State University Springfield
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wyoming earned it the #4 place in the United States. This public school is set in Laramie, WY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Graduates carry a median of $20,283 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,880. That is a strong return on a $20,283 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Wyoming
Out of the 157 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Arizona State University landed the #5 spot. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Arizona State University Natural Sciences students take on a median of $21,842 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $62,668. Set against $21,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 90% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Arizona State University profile
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #6 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. This public school is set in Fort Collins, CO. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete their Natural Sciences program here. Median earnings reach $60,543 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Colorado State University Fort Collins profile
University Of Arizona ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. Based in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,979. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. About 86% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Arizona report
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Duke University placed #9 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Duke University profile
Edgewood College
Edgewood College landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Edgewood College
The University Of Texas At Brownsville came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. More on The University Of Texas At Brownsville
Judson University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. More on Judson University
Morgan State University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. See the full Morgan State University profile
Rochester Community And Technical College came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. See the full Rochester Community And Technical College profile
California State University Chico placed #15 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full California State University Chico report
Concordia University Seward placed #16 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Concordia University Seward
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
Bethel College North Newton came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Bethel College North Newton report
San Francisco State University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on San Francisco State University
University Of Puerto Rico Cayey came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Puerto Rico Cayey profile
Arkansas State University Newport offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Arkansas State University Newport report
Eckerd College
Eckerd College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. Read the full report on Eckerd College
Boston College
Boston College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Boston College report
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #24 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Glendale Community College Glendale Az
University Of Hawaii West Oahu came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Hawaii West Oahu
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Natural Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Bard College At Simons Rock placed #27 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Bard College At Simons Rock profile
Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Chandler Gilbert Community College
East Georgia State College landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. More on East Georgia State College
Hiram College
Hiram College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Hiram College
Saint Thomas Aquinas College landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Saint Thomas Aquinas College
Bossier Parish Community College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Bossier Parish Community College
Mohave Community College placed #33 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. More on Mohave Community College
San Jose State University placed #34 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about San Jose State University
Shorter University came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Shorter University profile
University Of Hawaii At Hilo landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Hawaii At Hilo profile
Universidad Del Turabo offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Universidad Del Turabo
Bayamon Central University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. More on Bayamon Central University
Georgian Court University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. More on Georgian Court University
Midland University offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Midland University
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Saint Marys University Of Minnesota report
Honolulu Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Honolulu Community College report
New Mexico State University Carlsbad came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full New Mexico State University Carlsbad profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
College Of Western Idaho offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on College Of Western Idaho
Concordia University Wisconsin offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Read the full report on Concordia University Wisconsin
Temple University placed #47 among the best-value Natural Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Temple University
Erie Community College landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Erie Community College
Washburn University ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. See the full Washburn University profile
Mesa Community College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Natural Sciences schools. See the full Mesa Community College profile
Related Natural Sciences Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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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