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 2023 rankings named Brigham Young University - Idaho the best value school in the United States for physical sciences students. Located in the 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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The excellent programs at Brigham Young University - Provo helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best physical sciences schools in the United States. Located in the city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
BYU undergraduate students pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees each 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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The excellent programs at Western Carolina University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best physical sciences schools in the United States. Located in the distant town of Cullowhee, WCU is a public college with a 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 join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #4 on this year’s 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.
Full Physical Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Report
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. 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.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - River Falls also is in the top 10% of our Best Physical Sciences Schools ranking.
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University of Wyoming ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. UW is a large public school located in the town of Laramie.
UW undergraduate students pay an average of $16,957 in tuition and fees each 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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With a ranking of #7, Western Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for physical sciences students. Located in the remote town of Macomb, WIU is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WIU are $13,297 per year. The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at WIU take out is $25,687.
Full Physical Sciences at Western Illinois University Report
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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 school with a moderately-sized student population.
SRU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,615 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at SRU take out is $27,000.
SRU excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list.
Full Physical Sciences at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Report
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With a ranking of #9, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best value schools for physical sciences students. Located in the town of Edinboro, Edinboro is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Edinboro are $15,062 per 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 landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value physical sciences programs. Located in the remote town of Clarion, Clarion University is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Clarion University are $16,052 a year.
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University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public school with a fairly large student population.
UW - Eau Claire undergraduate students pay an average of $17,149 in tuition and fees each 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 also claimed a spot on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Full Physical Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Report
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East Tennessee State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #12 on the list. ETSU is a large public school located in the 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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Illinois State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools ranking. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Illinois State are $24,172 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Illinois State also did well on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Texas A&M University - Kingsville ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. Texas A&M Kingsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kingsville.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Texas A&M Kingsville are $25,746 per year.
Full Physical Sciences at Texas A&M University - Kingsville Report
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East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. Located in the small city of East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at East Stroudsburg University are $19,797 a year.
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Southern Arkansas University Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools ranking. Located in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are $14,530 per 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.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LHU are $20,702 per year.
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University of North Alabama came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Florence, UNA is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UNA are $20,220 a 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for physical sciences students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Springfield, Missouri State is a public school 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.
Full Physical Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield Report
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University of Houston ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools list. UH is a very large public school located in the large city of Houston.
UH undergraduate students pay an average of $21,891 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that physical sciences majors at UH take out is $23,010.
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With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on this year’s best value schools for physical sciences students. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Stevens Point.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Stevens Point are $17,035 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Stevens Point also is in the top 20% of our Best Physical Sciences Schools ranking.
Full Physical Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Report
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With a ranking of #22, University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well on this year’s best value schools for physical sciences students. 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 also claimed a spot on our Best Physical Sciences Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Full Physical Sciences at University of Minnesota - Morris Report
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California University of Pennsylvania came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools ranking. Located in the small suburb of California, Cal U is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cal U are $15,726 per year.
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University of Akron Main Campus landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value physical sciences programs. Located in the midsize city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public college with a fairly large student population.
University of Akron Main Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $11,880 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, physical sciences graduates from University of Akron Main Campus carry an average student debtload of $23,675.
Full Physical Sciences at University of Akron Main Campus Report
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University of Wisconsin - Parkside 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 suburb of Kenosha, UW - Parkside is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Parkside are $15,714 a 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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