2026 Best Value Science Technology And Society Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Science Technology And Society doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 68 institutions 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.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Science Technology And Society Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Arizona State University to be the best-value Science Technology And Society school in the United States. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical Science Technology And Society student debt is $15,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,668. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Arizona State University
A rank of #2 makes Massachusetts Institute Of Technology one of the best values in the United States. Set in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,396. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete their Science Technology And Society program here. Median earnings reach $143,372 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $13,516 median debt. About 4% of those who apply are admitted. More on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
You'll get strong value at George Mason University, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Median earnings reach $76,343 ten years out. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. Get the full George Mason University report
A rank of #4 makes Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute one of the best values in the United States. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Troy, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,078. Students borrow a median of $24,975 to complete their Science Technology And Society program here. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute alumni report median earnings of $102,051 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 64% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
You'll get strong value at Wesleyan University, which ranked #5 this year. See the full Wesleyan University profile
Arizona State University Skysong came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Arizona State University Skysong report
University Of North Georgia landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of North Georgia
University Of California Davis placed #8 among the best-value Science Technology And Society schools in the United States. More on University Of California Davis
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. More on Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Cornell University
University Of Wisconsin Madison offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
University Of Southern California came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Southern California profile
Washburn University landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Washburn University
University At Buffalo landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University At Buffalo profile
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
New Jersey Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. More on New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Northwestern University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Northwestern University
Brown University
Brown University placed #18 among the best-value Science Technology And Society schools in the United States. More on Brown University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #19 among the best-value Science Technology And Society schools in the United States. More on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Pitzer College
Pitzer College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Pitzer College
Coahoma Community College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full Coahoma Community College profile
Tennessee Technological University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. Get the full Tennessee Technological University report
Itawamba Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. Read the full report on Itawamba Community College
Lehigh University placed #24 among the best-value Science Technology And Society schools in the United States. Read more about Lehigh University
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Missouri Columbia
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Science Technology And Society Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Georgetown University placed #26 among the best-value Science Technology And Society schools in the United States. Get the full Georgetown University report
Pomona College
Pomona College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Pomona College profile
Scripps College
Scripps College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on Scripps College
James Madison University landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. More on James Madison University
Texas Tech University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. See the full Texas Tech University profile
Heritage University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. See the full Heritage University profile
San Francisco State University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. Read more about San Francisco State University
Purdue University Main Campus placed #33 among the best-value Science Technology And Society schools in the United States. See the full Purdue University Main Campus profile
University Of Puget Sound landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Puget Sound
Michigan State University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. Read more about Michigan State University
Claremont Mckenna College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. Read the full report on Claremont Mckenna College
University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Washington Bothell Campus profile
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. Read more about North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Chicago offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about University Of Chicago
University Of Massachusetts Amherst offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst report
St Johns University New York ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. Get the full St Johns University New York report
Butler University came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Butler University
Southeastern Louisiana University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. Read more about Southeastern Louisiana University
Vassar College
Vassar College came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Vassar College
Drexel University came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Drexel University report
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technology And Society schools. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Denver came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Denver
Farmingdale State College placed #48 among the best-value Science Technology And Society schools in the United States. See the full Farmingdale State College profile
Suffolk University landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Suffolk University
Stevens Institute Of Technology placed #50 among the best-value Science Technology And Society schools in the United States. See the full Stevens Institute Of Technology profile
Related Science Technology And Society Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Science Technology And Society Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Science Technology And Society Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technology And Society Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technology And Society Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technology And Society Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technology And Society Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technology And Society Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 68 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).