2026 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
For return on investment in physical sciences, no school beat University Of Florida this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $16,539. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $53,651 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of West Florida one of the best values for physical sciences. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,677 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $47,141 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,677 median debt. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Central Florida one of the best values for physical sciences. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,063 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $48,586. Set against $19,063 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Murray State University earned it the #4 place for physical sciences. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $48,334. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in physical sciences will find it at Northern Kentucky University, which ranked #5. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Students borrow a median of $25,572 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $52,565. Set against $25,572 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $15,750. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $28,660. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,860 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $35,552 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Dalton State College landed the #8 spot for physical sciences value this year. Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dalton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,336, while out-of-state students pay about $10,656. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $14,955 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Dalton State College generally make around $41,654. Set against $14,955 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Marshall University earned the #9 position for value in physical sciences this year. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. Students from in state pay about $9,162 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,953 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $32,143. Set against $11,953 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida Online landed the #10 spot for physical sciences value this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,876 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $24,757. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $40,691. Set against $24,757 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida Online admits about 61% of applicants.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $35,015. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of North Georgia placed #12 among the best values for physical sciences. University Of North Georgia is a very large public school located in the town of Dahlonega. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,444, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,318 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $43,714. That is a strong return on a $18,318 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University placed #13 among the best values for physical sciences. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $22,553. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $61,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #14 among the best values for physical sciences. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $42,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,977 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $23,584. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $34,512. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $21,831. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $83,560. That is a strong return on a $21,831 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $16,279. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $53,734. Set against $16,279 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida earned the #18 position for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $20,162. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $31,663. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
Tennessee State University placed #19 among the best values for physical sciences. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $29,489 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $45,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
North Carolina A And T State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $29,078 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $50,715. Set against $29,078 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned the #21 position for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,648, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Students borrow a median of $25,766 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $35,579. That is a strong return on a $25,766 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Perkinston. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,850. Students borrow a median of $11,653 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $34,214. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richard Bland College Of The College Of William And Mary earned the #23 position for value in physical sciences this year. Richard Bland College Of The College Of William And Mary is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of South Prince George. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,090, compared with $14,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $12,000. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $20,219. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Valdosta State University came in at #24 for value in physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,124, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $28,661. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $44,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earned the #25 position for value in physical sciences this year. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Smith. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,334, with out-of-state students paying around $12,182. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,333 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith generally make around $22,255. Set against $20,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in physical sciences:
Narrow Physical Sciences Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 316 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 68 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/) 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.
