2026 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
Leading the list is California State University Los Angeles, our #1 best value for natural sciences in the United States. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $14,430 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $39,870. Set against $14,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earned it the #2 place for natural sciences. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public school located in the city of San Juan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $5,673. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras generally make around $24,881. Set against $5,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American Public University System earned it the #3 place for natural sciences. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,438 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Bayamon Central University one of the best values for natural sciences. Located in the city of Bayamón, Bayamon Central University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,986. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $12,125. Natural Sciences graduates of Bayamon Central University earn a median of $14,326 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Students looking for strong value in natural sciences will find it at Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro, which ranked #5. Set in the city of San Juan, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,780. Students borrow a median of $16,666 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro earn a median of $30,631 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Puerto Rico Cayey placed #6 among the best values for natural sciences. Set in the suburb of Cayey, University Of Puerto Rico Cayey is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Cayey generally make around $11,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Christian Brothers University earned the #7 position for value in natural sciences this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,420. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Christian Brothers University earn a median of $33,145 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon placed #8 among the best values for natural sciences. Set in the city of Bayamon, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,780. Students borrow a median of $10,051 to complete the natural sciences program here. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $22,810. Set against $10,051 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University placed #9 among the best values for natural sciences. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Students borrow a median of $23,681 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $69,242 early in their careers. Set against $23,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Dominican University placed #10 among the best values for natural sciences. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,828 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,054 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $27,081. That is a strong return on a $25,054 median debt. Dominican University admits about 90% of applicants.
Logan University placed #11 among the best values for natural sciences. Logan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chesterfield. In-state tuition and fees average $9,000. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the natural sciences program here. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $49,628. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $28,107. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology earned the #13 position for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $24,400. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $22,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Daemen College placed #14 among the best values for natural sciences. Set in the suburb of Amherst, Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,218. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Daemen College generally make around $6,394. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Xavier University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $49,425. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $55,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University came in at #16 for value in natural sciences this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the natural sciences program here. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $45,910. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Texas Christian University earned the #17 position for value in natural sciences this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,740. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Set against $22,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
New York University earned the #18 position for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Hofstra University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $55,705. That is a strong return on a $24,848 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Felician College earned the #20 position for value in natural sciences this year. Felician College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lodi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,300. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete the natural sciences program here. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $56,976. Set against $28,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 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 · 157 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
[Natural Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural sciences education at a price that pays off.
