2026 Best Value Natural Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region
[Natural Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/natural-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for natural sciences students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Natural Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Sciences Schools
American Public University System earned the #1 spot for value among natural sciences schools in the Southeast Region. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $23,438. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Set against $23,438 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Christian Brothers University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,420. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Christian Brothers University generally make around $33,145. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Christian Brothers University admits about 87% of applicants.
Bossier Parish Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bossier City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,268. Students borrow a median of $21,610 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Bossier Parish Community College generally make around $25,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
National Park Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value natural sciences schools. National Park Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hot Springs. Students from in state pay about $5,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,280. Students borrow a median of $14,162 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from National Park Community College generally make around $42,458. Set against $14,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in natural sciences will find it at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #5. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $57,000. That is a strong return on a $23,813 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
