2026 Best Value Other Physical Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Other Physical Sciences doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 49 schools 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 Other Physical Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Charlotte this year in the United States. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school based in Charlotte, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical Other Physical Sciences student debt is $24,673. Median earnings reach $57,289 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 80% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Out of the 49 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. North Carolina State University At Raleigh Other Physical Sciences students take on a median of $22,113 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,758 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $22,113 median debt. About 42% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh report
A rank of #3 makes University Of California San Diego one of the best values in the United States. University Of California San Diego is a public school based in La Jolla, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $84,943. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego has an acceptance rate of 27%. More on University Of California San Diego
A rank of #4 makes University Of Mary Washington one of the best values in the United States. More on University Of Mary Washington
You'll get strong value at Northwest State Community College, which ranked #5 this year. More on Northwest State Community College
Benedict College placed #6 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. More on Benedict College
Eastern Oklahoma State College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools. See the full Eastern Oklahoma State College profile
Carnegie Mellon University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Read more about Carnegie Mellon University
Stevens Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Get the full Stevens Institute Of Technology report
Johns Hopkins University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. More on Johns Hopkins University
University Of California Davis landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of California Davis
Olivet Nazarene University placed #12 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Olivet Nazarene University
Suny Empire State College placed #13 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. More on Suny Empire State College
North Carolina A And T State University placed #14 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. More on North Carolina A And T State University
Old Dominion University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools. More on Old Dominion University
Susquehanna University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Susquehanna University report
Black Hills State University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Black Hills State University report
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools. More on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools. Read the full report on Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Wayne State University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Wayne State University report
Iona College
Iona College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Iona College report
Wichita State University offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Wichita State University report
Hobart William Smith Colleges placed #23 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Hobart William Smith Colleges
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools. Read more about University Of South Carolina Columbia
Frostburg State University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Frostburg State University
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Other Physical Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Cuny Hunter College placed #26 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cuny Hunter College
Suny College At Cortland came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Suny College At Cortland
University Of Utah came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Utah
Capital Community College placed #29 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. More on Capital Community College
Xavier University landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Xavier University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill report
University Of Delaware placed #32 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Delaware report
The College Of Saint Scholastica came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. See the full The College Of Saint Scholastica profile
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools. More on Oklahoma City Community College
Suffolk University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools. Get the full Suffolk University report
Cedar Crest College placed #36 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. More on Cedar Crest College
University Of Alabama At Huntsville placed #37 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Alabama At Huntsville
University Of California Merced placed #38 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. More on University Of California Merced
Northern Illinois University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Northern Illinois University
Swarthmore College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. More on Swarthmore College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #41 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
Florida International University came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. More on Florida International University
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
American University offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about American University
Stony Brook University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools. Read more about Stony Brook University
Temple University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Read more about Temple University
Florida State University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools. Read the full report on Florida State University
Saginaw Valley State University placed #48 among the best-value Other Physical Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Saginaw Valley State University
Azusa Pacific University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Azusa Pacific University report
Related Other Physical Sciences Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Other Physical Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Other Physical Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Physical Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Physical Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Physical Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Physical Sciences 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 49 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).