2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Sustainability Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 278 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.
To arm you with the information you need, 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 Sustainability Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, our #1 best-value Sustainability Science school in the United States. Located in Charlotte, NC, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte alumni report median earnings of $57,289 a decade after entry. Set against $24,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 80% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Out of the 278 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #2 spot. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign Sustainability Science students take on a median of $19,500 in debt. Median earnings reach $81,054 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #2 makes University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus one of the best values in the United States. Located in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Typical Sustainability Science student debt is $23,138. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,126. That is a strong return on a $23,138 median debt. About 77% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus report
You'll get strong value at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #4 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Columbia University In The City Of New York Sustainability Science students take on a median of $18,070 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $102,491. That is a strong return on a $18,070 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants. See the full Columbia University In The City Of New York profile
University Of Georgia came in at #5 on this year's best-value Sustainability Science ranking in the United States. Set in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Graduates carry a median of $20,033 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,726 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,033 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Georgia
West Virginia University landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Morgantown, WV. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. The median Sustainability Science program debt is $23,772. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants. More on West Virginia University
Washington University In St Louis landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in St. Louis, MO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Washington University In St Louis Sustainability Science students take on a median of $17,553 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $86,182 ten years after entry. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants. Read the full report on Washington University In St Louis
Bellevue University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Bellevue University
Barnard College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sustainability Science schools. Get the full Barnard College report
Phoenix College
Phoenix College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. See the full Phoenix College profile
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Stephen F Austin State University profile
University Of Denver placed #12 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Denver profile
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. More on Cuny Brooklyn College
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. More on New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. More on Lenoir Rhyne University
University Of Wisconsin Platteville placed #16 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Platteville report
Mesa State College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. See the full Mesa State College profile
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Johns Hopkins University offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
Miami University Hamilton placed #20 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Miami University Hamilton
Seminole State College Of Florida placed #21 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Read more about Seminole State College Of Florida
University Of California Riverside came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of California Riverside profile
Shenandoah University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sustainability Science schools. See the full Shenandoah University profile
Arizona State University Skysong landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Arizona State University Skysong profile
Champlain College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Champlain College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Sustainability Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Presidio Graduate School ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sustainability Science schools. Read more about Presidio Graduate School
University Of South Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full University Of South Dakota report
Pennsylvania State University World Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Pennsylvania State University World Campus profile
Toccoa Falls College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Toccoa Falls College report
Washington State University offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Washington State University report
Madonna University landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Madonna University report
Mercyhurst College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Mercyhurst College
California State University East Bay placed #33 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on California State University East Bay
Northwestern University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Sustainability Science schools. See the full Northwestern University profile
University Of Rochester came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Rochester
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #37 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Stout
Auburn University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Read more about Auburn University
Hartwick College
Hartwick College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Hartwick College report
Southeastern Louisiana University offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Southeastern Louisiana University
Saint John Fisher College placed #41 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Read more about Saint John Fisher College
University Of Southern Maine placed #42 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Southern Maine report
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Illinois Institute Of Technology profile
Sit Graduate Institute landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Sit Graduate Institute
Radford University offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Radford University report
Suny College At Brockport landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Suny College At Brockport
The University Of Tennessee came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee
Stanford University offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full Stanford University report
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #49 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Wilkes University placed #50 among the best-value Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Read more about Wilkes University
Related Sustainability Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Sustainability Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Sustainability Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Sustainability Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Sustainability Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Sustainability Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Sustainability Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Sustainability 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 278 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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