2026 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in District of Columbia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
For return on investment in physical sciences, no school beat George Washington University this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Georgetown University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Howard University earned it the #3 place for physical sciences. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,810. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Howard University generally make around $58,495. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
[Physical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
