by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for biophysics students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in biophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 best value for biophysics in the Middle Atlantic Region. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $41,848. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value biophysics schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $48,721. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned it the #3 place for biophysics. Located in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $71,549. That is a strong return on a $24,755 median debt. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johns Hopkins University earned it the #4 place for biophysics. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $13,426. Biophysics graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $63,355 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Suny At Geneseo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in biophysics, landing the #5 spot this year. Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Geneseo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,999, compared with $19,569 for out-of-state students. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $22,986 in student loans. Biophysics graduates of Suny At Geneseo earn a median of $37,206 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,986 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
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Stony Brook University came in at #6 for value in biophysics this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $18,968. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Swarthmore College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value biophysics schools. Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Swarthmore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,494. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $66,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #8 for value in biophysics this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $23,258. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University At Buffalo earned the #9 position for value in biophysics this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $22,232. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $52,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Rowan University placed #10 among the best values for biophysics. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,574 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the biophysics program here. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $38,799. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Rochester earned the #11 position for value in biophysics this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,080. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $21,517. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $60,865. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Temple University landed the #12 spot for biophysics value this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $45,994. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Scranton landed the #13 spot for biophysics value this year. University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Students from in state pay about $53,777 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biophysics program here. Biophysics graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $56,861 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Scranton admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #14 spot for biophysics value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $16,155. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Cornell University placed #15 among the best values for biophysics. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $75,976. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
George Washington University placed #16 among the best values for biophysics. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $22,910. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $73,749. Set against $22,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value biophysics schools. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $50,790. That is a strong return on a $17,609 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Georgetown University landed the #18 spot for biophysics value this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
Bucknell University landed the #19 spot for biophysics value this year. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,812. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $25,951. Biophysics graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of $64,331 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bucknell University admits about 29% of applicants.
Syracuse University landed the #20 spot for biophysics value this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biophysics program here. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $54,785. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.