2027 Best Value Natural Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
[Natural Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/) 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 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value natural sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Natural Sciences Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the natural sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Natural Sciences Schools
For return on investment in natural sciences, no school beat Kapiolani Community College this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,284, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $14,738 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Kapiolani Community College earn a median of $48,210 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,738 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in natural sciences will find it at Leeward Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Pearl City, Leeward Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,214, while out-of-state students pay about $8,350. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $11,068. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $21,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #3 place for natural sciences. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $10,928. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $40,788. That is a strong return on a $10,928 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Honolulu Community College one of the best values for natural sciences. Honolulu Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Honolulu. In-state tuition and fees average $3,174, with out-of-state students paying around $8,310. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $10,868. Natural Sciences graduates of Honolulu Community College earn a median of $59,006 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,868 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in natural sciences will find it at Bucks County Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, compared with $13,926 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $13,068. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $37,711. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Haskell Indian Nations University landed the #6 spot for natural sciences value this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, Haskell Indian Nations University is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $600. Natural Sciences graduates of Haskell Indian Nations University earn a median of $24,914 early in their careers. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Massasoit Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,376, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $10,129. Natural Sciences graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $29,587 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,129 median debt.
Erie Community College landed the #8 spot for natural sciences value this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $12,580 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $37,069 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,580 median debt.
Laramie County Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Set in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,613 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,913. Students borrow a median of $15,309 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of Laramie County Community College earn a median of $51,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,309 median debt.
University Of Hawaii Maui College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. University Of Hawaii Maui College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kahului. In-state tuition and fees average $3,284, compared with $8,420 for out-of-state students. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,824 in student loans. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $51,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Windward Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Kaneohe, Windward Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,194, with out-of-state students paying around $8,330. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $10,930. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Windward Community College generally make around $32,654. That is a strong return on a $10,930 median debt.
College Of Western Idaho placed #12 among the best values for natural sciences. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,446, compared with $7,454 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,497 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $40,963.
University Of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Located in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,083 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,892. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $23,439. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $50,963. Set against $23,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College earned the #14 position for value in natural sciences this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Bossier Parish Community College earned the #15 position for value in natural sciences this year. 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. Natural Sciences graduates of Bossier Parish Community College earn a median of $25,713 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Texas A And M University came in at #16 for value in natural sciences this year. Set in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,101 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,996. Students borrow a median of $22,333 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $43,515 early in their careers. Set against $22,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Other Natural Sciences Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Natural Sciences rankings across degree levels:
View All Natural Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
