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2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

21 Ranked Colleges
1,095 Degrees Awarded
$11,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Science, Technology & Society is the 232nd most popular major in the country with 1,095 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, science, technology and society graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $41,177 and had an average of $22,529 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 21 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in science, technology and society. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent science, technology and society programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the science, technology and society program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Science, Technology & Society Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 21 Best Value Colleges for Science, Technology & Society (Income $0-$30k)

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 63 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stanford is $1,233 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Science, Technology & Society at Stanford University

2
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgetown University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 132 ’s science, tech and society degrees in 2020-2021.

Georgetown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list. It costs about $3,077 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Georgetown University.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Science, Technology & Society at Georgetown University

3
Colby crest
Colby College
Waterville, Maine

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colby College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Waterville, Maine, and it awarded 13 ’s science, tech and society degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Colby, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Colby College is $2,648 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Colby Science, Technology & Society Report

4
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 18 degrees to qualified ’s science, tech and society students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanderbilt, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt is $3,176 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Science, Technology & Society at Vanderbilt

5
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tufts University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tufts University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Medford, Massachusetts. It awarded 8 ’s science, tech and society degrees in 2020-2021.

Tufts also made our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Tufts University is $8,122 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Science, Technology & Society at Tufts

6
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Carnegie Mellon University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 4 ’s science, tech and society degrees in 2020-2021.

Carnegie Mellon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list. It costs about $16,456 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carnegie Mellon.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Science, Technology & Society at Carnegie Mellon

7
Vassar crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York

Vassar College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Poughkeepsie, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vassar, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Vassar is $10,535 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Science, Technology & Society at Vassar

8

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. ASU - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s science, tech and society degrees to qualified students.

ASU - Tempe not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list. It costs about $8,969 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Science, Technology & Society at Arizona State University - Tempe

9

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. UC Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 13 ’s science, tech and society degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Davis has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $10,006 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full UC Davis Science, Technology & Society Report

10
SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale crest
Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, New York

Farmingdale State College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Farmingdale, New York, this medium-sized public school handed out 293 diplomas to qualified ’s science, tech and society students in 2020-2021.

SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale also made our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Farmingdale State College is $3,335 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Science, Technology & Society at SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale

11
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

With a ranking of #11, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s science, tech and society degrees to 58 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NC State, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina State University is $7,283 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Science, Technology & Society at North Carolina State University

12

With a ranking of #12, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Georgia Tech is a large public school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 59 ’s science, tech and society degrees in 2020-2021.

Georgia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is $8,818 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Science, Technology & Society at Georgia Tech

13
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s science, tech and society degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,927 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Science, Technology & Society at Michigan State University

14
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s science, tech and society degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k list, GMU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for George Mason University is $14,781 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Science, Technology & Society at George Mason University

15
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. JMU is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 93 ’s science, tech and society degrees in 2020-2021.

JMU also made our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend JMU is $14,288 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full JMU Science, Technology & Society Report

16

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Troy, New York, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s science, tech and society students in 2020-2021.

RPI also made our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend RPI is $22,878 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Science, Technology & Society at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

17

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Cal Poly Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 5 ’s science, tech and society degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal Poly Pomona also made our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is $10,349 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Science, Technology & Society at Cal Poly Pomona

18

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Norman, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s science, tech and society degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

University of Oklahoma did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Oklahoma is $16,103 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Science, Technology & Society at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

19

University of Washington - Bothell Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW Bothell is a public institution located in Bothell, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UW Bothell also took the #21 spot in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,864 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW Bothell.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Science, Technology & Society at UW Bothell

20
WPI crest
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #20, Worcester Polytechnic Institute did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. WPI is a private not-for-profit institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k list, WPI has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WPI is $31,779 for science, tech & society students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Worcester Polytechnic Institute Science, Technology & Society Report

21
Puget Sound crest
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington

University of Puget Sound landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Science, Tech & Society Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Tacoma, Washington, and it awarded 6 ’s science, tech and society degrees in 2020-2021.

Puget Sound also took the #18 spot in our “Best Science, Technology & Society Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Puget Sound is $24,734 for Science, Tech & Society students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Science, Technology & Society at Puget Sound

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Notes and References

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