2026 Best Value Physical Science Technicians Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Physical Science Technicians associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 101 institutions 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.
So you can compare your options, 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 Physical Science Technicians Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Lee College this year in the United States. Based in Baytown, TX, Lee College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,520, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Typical Physical Science Technicians student debt is $9,598. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,178 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Lee College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #2 place in the United States. College Of The Mainland is a public school based in Texas City, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,639. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. See the full College Of The Mainland profile
A rank of #3 makes Alvin Community College one of the best values in the United States. Set in Alvin, TX, Alvin Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Alvin Community College Physical Science Technicians students take on a median of $7,801 in debt. Alvin Community College alumni report median earnings of $45,762 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $7,801 median debt. More on Alvin Community College
A rank of #4 makes Del Mar College one of the best values in the United States. Del Mar College is a public school based in Corpus Christi, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete their Physical Science Technicians program here. Median earnings reach $38,656 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt. More on Del Mar College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wharton County Junior College earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Wharton, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Students borrow a median of $16,625 to complete their Physical Science Technicians program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,960. That is a strong return on a $16,625 median debt. See the full Wharton County Junior College profile
San Jacinto Community College placed #6 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. Based in Pasadena, TX, San Jacinto Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,062. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on San Jacinto Community College
Kilgore College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Kilgore, TX, Kilgore College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,160, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $17,208 in student loans. Median earnings reach $37,975 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $17,208 median debt. Get the full Kilgore College report
Delta College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Located in University Center, MI, Delta College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,880. Delta College Physical Science Technicians students take on a median of $14,075 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,781. Set against $14,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Delta College
Houston Community College came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Houston, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Students borrow a median of $21,740 to complete their Physical Science Technicians program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,254 ten years after entry. Set against $21,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Houston Community College
Corning Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Based in Corning, NY, Corning Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,534, compared with $10,326 for out-of-state students. The median Physical Science Technicians program debt is $15,638. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,817 ten years after entry. Set against $15,638 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Corning Community College
Lamar State College Orange offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in Orange, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Lamar State College Orange
Texas State Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Waco, TX, Texas State Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,212, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Graduates carry a median of $11,959 in student loans. Texas State Technical College alumni report median earnings of $38,916 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. 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. Located in Beaumont, TX, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,844, compared with $12,924 for out-of-state students. The median Physical Science Technicians program debt is $15,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,991 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Lamar Institute Of Technology profile
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Set in South Charleston, WV, Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,428. Graduates carry a median of $11,958 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Bridgevalley Community And Technical College
Ashland Community And Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Set in Ashland, KY, Ashland Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. The median Physical Science Technicians program debt is $10,867. Ashland Community And Technical College alumni report median earnings of $34,504 a decade after entry. Set against $10,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Ashland Community And Technical College
Ivy Tech Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. More on Ivy Tech Community College
University Of South Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. More on University Of South Dakota
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile
Broward College
Broward College offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about Broward College
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. More on State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota
Ball State University offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Ball State University
South Arkansas Community College came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. More on South Arkansas Community College
Weber State University landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Weber State University profile
Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Cuny New York City College Of Technology report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Physical Science Technicians Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Kalamazoo Valley Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Ferris State University placed #27 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. Get the full Ferris State University report
Columbia Basin College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full Columbia Basin College report
John Tyler Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full John Tyler Community College report
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School placed #30 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. Read more about Seward County Community College And Area Technical School
Grand Rapids Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Read more about Grand Rapids Community College
Bucks County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on Bucks County Community College
Northern Essex Community College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Northern Essex Community College report
Edison State College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Edison State College report
Lansing Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Lansing Community College profile
Maysville Community And Technical College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. See the full Maysville Community And Technical College profile
Northern New Mexico College landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Northern New Mexico College
Santa Fe College
Santa Fe College landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Santa Fe College profile
Eastern Florida State College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. See the full Eastern Florida State College profile
Jefferson Community And Technical College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. More on Jefferson Community And Technical College
Augusta Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. See the full Augusta Technical College profile
Northwest Shoals Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Northwest Shoals Community College
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Milwaukee Area Technical College
Northeast State Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Read more about Northeast State Community College
Community College Of Rhode Island came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. See the full Community College Of Rhode Island profile
Delaware Technical Community College Terry placed #46 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. Read more about Delaware Technical Community College Terry
Mt San Antonio College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. See the full Mt San Antonio College profile
Fresno City College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools. Read the full report on Fresno City College
Sowela Technical Community College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Sowela Technical Community College profile
Lamar State College Port Arthur placed #50 among the best-value Physical Science Technicians schools in the United States. Get the full Lamar State College Port Arthur report
Related Physical Science Technicians Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Physical Science Technicians Undergraduate Certificate 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
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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).