2026 Best Value Behavioral Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Behavioral Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/behavioral-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 145 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value behavioral science schools.
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2026 Best Value Behavioral Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the behavioral science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Behavioral Science Schools
Leading the list is California State University Dominguez Hills, our #1 best value for behavioral science in the United States. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $15,886. Behavioral Science graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $61,361. That is a strong return on a $15,117 median debt. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Jose State University earned it the #3 place for behavioral science. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Purdue University Northwest one of the best values for behavioral science. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Students borrow a median of $16,012 to complete the behavioral science program here. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $28,340. Set against $16,012 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Houston Clear Lake earned it the #5 place for behavioral science. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,346, while out-of-state students pay about $22,290. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $27,224 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $32,986. That is a strong return on a $27,224 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Purdue University Global earned the #6 position for value in behavioral science this year. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $36,778 in student loans. Behavioral Science graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $47,857 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,778 median debt.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans. Behavioral Science graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,549 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,755 median debt. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Phoenix Arizona ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,552. Students borrow a median of $49,770 to complete the behavioral science program here. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $38,087. Set against $49,770 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of West Georgia came in at #9 for value in behavioral science this year. Set in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $26,789. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $46,432. Set against $26,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of West Georgia admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Kansas came in at #10 for value in behavioral science this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Behavioral Science graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $36,206 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,375 to complete the behavioral science program here. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $84,850. That is a strong return on a $12,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #12 for value in behavioral science this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the behavioral science program here. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Saint Francis University came in at #13 for value in behavioral science this year. Located in the rural area of Loretto, Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,388. Students borrow a median of $47,439 to complete the behavioral science program here. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Saint Francis University generally make around $63,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Francis University admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Iowa came in at #14 for value in behavioral science this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Tulsa placed #15 among the best values for behavioral science. University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,546. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $23,638. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from University Of Tulsa generally make around $66,166. That is a strong return on a $23,638 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Life Pacific College landed the #16 spot for behavioral science value this year. Life Pacific College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of San Dimas. In-state tuition and fees average $22,118. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $27,000. Behavioral Science graduates of Life Pacific College earn a median of $29,830 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Elizabethtown College came in at #17 for value in behavioral science this year. Located in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,950. Students borrow a median of $26,599 to complete the behavioral science program here. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Elizabethtown College generally make around $57,397. Set against $26,599 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University landed the #18 spot for behavioral science value this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $13,025. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $62,820. Set against $13,025 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Baptist University came in at #19 for value in behavioral science this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,122. Students borrow a median of $26,400 to complete the behavioral science program here. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Missouri Baptist University generally make around $30,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Ashford University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,960. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $51,388 in student loans. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $37,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Concordia University Irvine came in at #21 for value in behavioral science this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,480. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $24,583. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $31,899. That is a strong return on a $24,583 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
George Fox University earned the #22 position for value in behavioral science this year. Located in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,320. Students borrow a median of $30,813 to complete the behavioral science program here. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $34,613. Set against $30,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Fox University admits about 94% of applicants.
Franklin And Marshall College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. Set in the city of Lancaster, Franklin And Marshall College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,794. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $19,000. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $38,391. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Franklin And Marshall College admits about 28% of applicants.
Other Behavioral Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Behavioral Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Behavioral Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 145 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
