2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Physical Sciences School for You
Physical Sciences is the #19 most popular major in the country with 50,306 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Physical Sciences Schools ranking. This report analyzed 230 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for physical sciences students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Physical Sciences
Our analysis found Brigham Young University - Idaho to be the best value school for physical sciences students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the distant town of Rexburg, BYU - I is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU - I are $4,416 a year.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Brigham Young University - Provo is a great value for physical sciences students. Located in the city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BYU are $6,120 per year.
BYU excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Western Carolina University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. Located in the distant town of Cullowhee, WCU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WCU are $8,367 a year. The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at WCU take out is $21,451.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. SIUE is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SIUE are $11,496 per year. While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at SIUE accumulate an average of around $24,100 in student debt.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a great value for physical sciences students. Located in the distant town of River Falls, UW - River Falls is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - River Falls are $15,661 per year. The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at UW - River Falls take out is $27,000.
UW - River Falls also claimed a spot on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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University of Wyoming did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #6 on the list. UW is a fairly large public school located in the remote town of Laramie.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW are $16,957 a year. While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at UW accumulate an average of around $24,000 in student debt.
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Western Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools ranking. Located in the remote town of Macomb, WIU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
WIU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,297 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at WIU take out is $25,687.
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With a ranking of #8, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best value schools for physical sciences students. Located in the distant town of Slippery Rock, SRU is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SRU are $14,615 per year. The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at SRU take out is $27,000.
SRU also claimed a spot on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Edinboro University of Pennsylvania landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value physical sciences programs. Located in the town of Edinboro, Edinboro is a public school with a small student population.
Edinboro undergraduate students pay an average of $15,062 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from Edinboro carry an average student debtload of $25,000.
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Clarion University of Pennsylvania ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. Located in the remote town of Clarion, Clarion University is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Clarion University are $16,052 per year.
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With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on this year’s best value schools for physical sciences students. Located in the small city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Eau Claire are $17,149 a year. While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at UW - Eau Claire accumulate an average of around $21,375 in student debt.
UW - Eau Claire excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list.
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East Tennessee State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools ranking. ETSU is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Johnson City.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ETSU are $12,740 a year.
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With a ranking of #13, Illinois State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for physical sciences students. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal.
Illinois State undergraduate students pay an average of $24,172 in tuition and fees each year.
Illinois State also claimed a spot on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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Texas A&M University - Kingsville came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools ranking. Texas A&M Kingsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Kingsville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Texas A&M Kingsville are $25,746 a year.
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East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the city of East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg University is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
East Stroudsburg University undergraduate students pay an average of $19,797 in tuition and fees each year.
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Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. Located in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public college with a small student population.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $14,530 in tuition and fees each year. On average, physical sciences graduates from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus take out $23,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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With a ranking of #17, Lock Haven University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for physical sciences students. LHU is a small public school located in the distant town of Lock Haven.
LHU undergraduate students pay an average of $20,702 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of North Alabama did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the city of Florence, UNA is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNA are $20,220 per year. While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at UNA accumulate an average of around $22,500 in student debt.
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Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value physical sciences programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Springfield, Missouri State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Missouri State are $16,498 per year. Physical Sciences majors at Missouri State take out an average of $25,080 in student loans while working on their egree.
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University of Houston landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value physical sciences programs. UH is a very large public school located in the city of Houston.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UH are $21,891 per year. The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at UH take out is $23,010.
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University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Stevens Point.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Stevens Point are $17,035 a year.
UW - Stevens Point also claimed a spot on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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University of Minnesota - Morris ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. UMN Morris is a small public school located in the town of Morris.
UMN Morris undergraduate students pay an average of $15,940 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from UMN Morris carry an average student debtload of $26,607.
UMN Morris excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list.
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With a ranking of #23, California University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best value schools for physical sciences students. Located in the small suburb of California, Cal U is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Cal U undergraduate students pay an average of $15,726 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 a year. After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from University of Akron Main Campus carry an average student debtload of $23,675.
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University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value physical sciences programs. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha, UW - Parkside is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Parkside are $15,714 per year. While working on their degree, physical sciences majors at UW - Parkside accumulate an average of around $26,700 in student debt.
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Physical Sciences Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL |
| 35 | Iowa State University | Ames, IA |
| 37 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 38 | California State University - Long Beach | Long Beach, CA |
| 38 | Ohio University - Athens Campus | Athens, OH |
| 40 | Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago, IL |
| 41 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
| 42 | Stockton University | Galloway, NJ |
| 42 | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg, PA |
| 44 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA |
| 45 | Wichita State University | Wichita, KS |
| 46 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX |
Physical Sciences by Region
View the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Physical Sciences Rankings
Majors Related to Physical Sciences
Physical Sciences Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 21,239 |
| Physics | 13,674 |
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 7,821 |
| General Physical Sciences | 3,823 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 1,375 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 1,140 |
| Materials Sciences | 658 |
| Other Physical Science | 538 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 38 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer & Information Sciences | 254,454 |
| Engineering | 198,468 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences | 177,778 |
| Engineering Technologies | 85,188 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | 52,396 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NASA.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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