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2026 Best Value Population Biology Schools

[Population Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/population-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for population biology students.

What’s on this page:

• Customize Your Rankings
• Best Value Population Biology Schools List
• Narrow by Region

Finding the Best Value Population Biology School for You

Where you study population biology affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Population Biology Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.

See how we build our rankings

Customizing Your List

We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Population Biology Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.

Learn more about our methodology

2026 Best Value Population Biology Schools in the United States

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the population biology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Population Biology Schools

1

University Of California Davis
Davis, CA

$15,804 In-State Tuition & Fees

$19,951 Avg Student Debt

$80,838 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked University Of California Davis the best value for a degree in population biology in the United States. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for population biology graduates is $19,951. Early-career population biology graduates make about $32,161. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.

2

Texas State University San Marcos
San Marcos, TX

$11,450 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,659 Avg Student Debt

$56,906 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in population biology will find it at Texas State University San Marcos, which ranked #2. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for population biology graduates is $23,659. Early-career population biology graduates make about $47,456. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.

3

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD

$64,730 In-State Tuition & Fees

$13,426 Avg Student Debt

$87,555 Median Earnings (10yr)

Johns Hopkins University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value population biology schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the population biology program here. Soon after graduation, population biology degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $84,578. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.

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Population Biology Related Rankings by Major

Population Biology is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 4 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.