2026 Best Value Physical Science Technicians Schools
Looking for the best-value Physical Science Technicians programs programs in the United States? We have ranked 101 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed 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 Physical Science Technicians Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found Lee College to be the best-value Physical Science Technicians school in the United States. This public school is set in Baytown, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Lee College Physical Science Technicians students take on a median of $9,598 in debt. Lee College alumni report median earnings of $42,178 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,598 median debt. More on Lee College
College Of The Mainland came in at #2 on this year's best-value Physical Science Technicians ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Texas City, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. The median Physical Science Technicians program debt is $10,500. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,639. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. Read the full report on College Of The Mainland
A rank of #3 makes Alvin Community College one of the best values in the United States. Alvin Community College is a public school based in Alvin, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Typical Physical Science Technicians student debt is $7,801. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Alvin Community College
You'll get strong value at Wharton County Junior College, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Wharton, TX, Wharton County Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Graduates carry a median of $16,625 in student loans. Median earnings reach $44,960 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Wharton County Junior College
Out of the 101 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Del Mar College landed the #5 spot. Located in Corpus Christi, TX, Del Mar College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. The median Physical Science Technicians program debt is $7,000. Del Mar College alumni report median earnings of $38,656 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt. Read the full report on Del Mar College
San Jacinto Community College came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Set in Pasadena, TX, San Jacinto Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. The median Physical Science Technicians program debt is $10,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,062 ten years after entry. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about San Jacinto Community College
Kilgore College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Kilgore, TX, Kilgore College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,160, while out-of-state students pay about $5,256. Graduates carry a median of $17,208 in student loans. Kilgore College alumni report median earnings of $37,975 a decade after entry. Set against $17,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Kilgore College
Delta College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Delta College is a public school based in University Center, MI. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Typical Physical Science Technicians student debt is $14,075. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Delta College
Houston Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Houston Community College is a public school based in Houston, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical Physical Science Technicians student debt is $21,740. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,254 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,740 median debt. Read more about Houston Community College
Corning Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Set in Corning, NY, Corning Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,534 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,326. Typical Physical Science Technicians student debt is $15,638. Corning Community College alumni report median earnings of $38,817 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,638 median debt. Read the full report on Corning Community College
Lamar State College Orange placed #11 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. Lamar State College Orange is a public school based in Orange, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete their Physical Science Technicians program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Lamar State College Orange profile
Texas State Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Located in Waco, TX, Texas State Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,212, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Typical Physical Science Technicians student debt is $11,959. Median earnings reach $38,916 ten years out. Set against $11,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Texas State Technical College profile
Lamar Institute Of Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. This public school is set in Beaumont, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $2,844, compared with $12,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete their Physical Science Technicians program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,991. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. Read more about Lamar Institute Of Technology
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Based in South Charleston, WV, Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,800, compared with $12,428 for out-of-state students. The median Physical Science Technicians program debt is $11,958. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,432. Set against $11,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Bridgevalley Community And Technical College profile
Ashland Community And Technical College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Ashland, KY, Ashland Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical Physical Science Technicians student debt is $10,867. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $34,504. That is a strong return on a $10,867 median debt. Read the full report on Ashland Community And Technical College
Lakeland Community College placed #16 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. More on Lakeland Community College
Merced College
Merced College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. See the full Merced College profile
Southwestern College Chula Vista came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. See the full Southwestern College Chula Vista profile
Arkansas Tech University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Arkansas Tech University report
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile
College Of Central Florida placed #21 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. Read more about College Of Central Florida
Cape Fear Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Cape Fear Community College report
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Read the full report on Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about Seward County Community College And Area Technical School
Brazosport College landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Brazosport College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Physical Science Technicians Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Ferris State University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Ferris State University report
Maysville Community And Technical College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Maysville Community And Technical College
University Of South Alabama landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of South Alabama
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. More on Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
West Virginia Northern Community College placed #31 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. Read more about West Virginia Northern Community College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Kalamazoo Valley Community College report
Broward College
Broward College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read the full report on Broward College
Rice University
Rice University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. More on Rice University
Santa Fe College
Santa Fe College landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Santa Fe College
Edison State College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. More on Edison State College
Jefferson Community And Technical College placed #37 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. See the full Jefferson Community And Technical College profile
Ball State University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on Ball State University
Mountain Empire Community College placed #39 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. See the full Mountain Empire Community College profile
University Of South Dakota came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of South Dakota profile
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania report
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. See the full Ivy Tech Community College profile
Cuny New York City College Of Technology ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Read more about Cuny New York City College Of Technology
Kansas City Kansas Community College came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Kansas City Kansas Community College report
Louisiana State University Eunice landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Louisiana State University Eunice profile
Valencia College
Valencia College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Read the full report on Valencia College
Columbia Basin College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. More on Columbia Basin College
Hazard Community And Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full Hazard Community And Technical College report
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. More on State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota
Community College Of Rhode Island placed #50 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. Get the full Community College Of Rhode Island report
Best Value Physical Science Technicians Schools by Degree Level
See the best values at each degree level:
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Doctoral 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 101 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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