2026 Best Value Biophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Biophysics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/biochemistry-biophysics-molecular-biology/biophysics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong biophysics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for biophysics students.
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2026 Best Value Biophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in biophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Biophysics Schools
University Of Southern Indiana earned the #1 spot for value among biophysics schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $21,999. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $47,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value biophysics schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $40,562. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for biophysics. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the biophysics program here. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $57,461. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Oakland University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value biophysics schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the biophysics program here. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $54,785. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for biophysics. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $20,948. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $51,184. Set against $20,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for biophysics value this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $53,823. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Chicago came in at #7 for value in biophysics this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $15,854. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Andrews University came in at #8 for value in biophysics this year. Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berrien Springs. Students from in state pay about $35,056 in tuition and fees. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Andrews University generally make around $62,634. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Miami University Oxford ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value biophysics schools. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the biophysics program here. Biophysics graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Notre Dame ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value biophysics schools. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Students borrow a median of $17,103 to complete the biophysics program here. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $69,494. That is a strong return on a $17,103 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Marquette University came in at #11 for value in biophysics this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,170 in tuition and fees. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Set against $24,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #12 position for value in biophysics this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the biophysics program here. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $38,487. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
