2026 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Physical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 56 schools to find the best return on investment for physical sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked Brigham Young University Idaho the best value for a degree in physical sciences in the Rocky Mountains Region. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #2 makes Utah Valley University one of the best values for physical sciences. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Weber State University one of the best values for physical sciences. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,176 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $49,845. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Southern Utah University one of the best values for physical sciences. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $44,998. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wyoming one of the best values for physical sciences. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $23,700. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $42,587 early in their careers. Set against $23,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Utah earned the #6 position for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $41,711 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,857 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Utah State University earned the #7 position for value in physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $16,191. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $50,348. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Students borrow a median of $12,184 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $68,664. Set against $12,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #9 for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,318 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $34,417 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
The University Of Montana placed #10 among the best values for physical sciences. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $24,342. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $42,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #11 for value in physical sciences this year. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Students from in state pay about $11,901 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $26,617. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $43,807. That is a strong return on a $26,617 median debt. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
Fort Lewis College came in at #12 for value in physical sciences this year. Located in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,958 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,526. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $15,417. Physical Sciences graduates of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $34,159 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fort Lewis College admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #13 spot for physical sciences value this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $22,365. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $66,022 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #14 spot for physical sciences value this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,205 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $57,310. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Boise State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $26,150. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $37,790. That is a strong return on a $26,150 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Montana State University came in at #16 for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $29,030 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #17 for value in physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,337 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $50,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,337 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Colorado School Of Mines ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $24,521. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $79,523. That is a strong return on a $24,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Colorado College came in at #19 for value in physical sciences this year. Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students from in state pay about $70,734 in tuition and fees. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of Colorado College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado College admits about 18% of applicants.
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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 · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
