[Medical Science](/majors/health-care-professions/medical-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 98 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for medical science students.
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Finding the Best Value Medical Science School for You
The medical science program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Medical Science Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Medical Science Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
University Of California Irvine earned the #1 spot for value among medical science schools in the United States. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical science degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the best values for medical science. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medical science graduates is $23,146. Soon after graduation, medical science degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $56,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value medical science schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for medical science graduates is $17,101. Medical Science graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $121,264 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Harvard University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value medical science schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Typical student debt for medical science graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, medical science degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in medical science will find it at Saint Cloud State University, which ranked #5. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Students borrow a median of $25,076 to complete the medical science program here. Early-career medical science graduates make about $51,625. Set against $25,076 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Vanderbilt University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value medical science schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Early-career medical science graduates make about $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #7 for value in medical science this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Students from in state pay about $11,954 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $21,348 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical science degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $49,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
Clemson University earned the #8 position for value in medical science this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. Early-career medical science graduates make about $53,834. Set against $23,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of Vermont came in at #9 for value in medical science this year. University Of Vermont is a large public school located in the city of Burlington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,058, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete the medical science program here. Soon after graduation, medical science degree recipients from University Of Vermont generally make around $44,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #10 spot for medical science value this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the medical science program here. Medical Science graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
New York Institute Of Technology placed #11 among the best values for medical science. Set in the rural area of Old Westbury, New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,560. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $25,435 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical science degree recipients from New York Institute Of Technology generally make around $66,337. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Emory University placed #12 among the best values for medical science. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete the medical science program here. Early-career medical science graduates make about $188,661. That is a strong return on a $19,431 median debt. Emory University admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for medical science. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for medical science graduates is $16,250. Medical Science graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $212,718 early in their careers. Set against $16,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University earned the #14 position for value in medical science this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Early-career medical science graduates make about $62,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Northwestern University landed the #15 spot for medical science value this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical science degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $124,451. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Jacksonville University placed #16 among the best values for medical science. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,150. Typical student debt for medical science graduates is $25,619. Early-career medical science graduates make about $72,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value medical science schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Medical Science graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #18 for value in medical science this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Medical Science graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $200,264 early in their careers. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #19 spot for medical science value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Typical student debt for medical science graduates is $16,155. Soon after graduation, medical science degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $77,276. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University placed #20 among the best values for medical science. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical science degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. That is a strong return on a $17,074 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
University Of Miami earned the #21 position for value in medical science this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Medical Science graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Early-career medical science graduates make about $57,234. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
George Washington University came in at #22 for value in medical science this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for medical science graduates is $22,910. Medical Science graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Butler University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value medical science schools. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Typical student debt for medical science graduates is $25,351. Early-career medical science graduates make about $68,222. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Butler University admits about 85% of applicants.
Case Western Reserve University placed #24 among the best values for medical science. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Typical student debt for medical science graduates is $25,106. Medical Science graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
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 · 98 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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).
[Medical Science](/majors/health-care-professions/medical-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
