2026 Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools in Illinois
[Biological & Physical Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/biological-physical-science/biological-and-physical-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 50 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for biological & physical sciences students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the biological & physical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools
Moraine Valley Community College earned the #1 spot for value among biological & physical sciences schools in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $23,128. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College one of the best values for biological & physical sciences. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $5,583 in student loans. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn a median of $26,130 early in their careers. Set against $5,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in biological & physical sciences will find it at Carl Sandburg College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,390, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,604 in student loans. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Carl Sandburg College earn a median of $48,534 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $33,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College one of the best values for biological & physical sciences. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $8,750. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $27,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Land College came in at #6 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $30,294. That is a strong return on a $7,769 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College landed the #7 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $8,965 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $30,203. Set against $8,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Danville Area Community College came in at #8 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,440, compared with $7,440 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $9,470. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Danville Area Community College earn a median of $36,123 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Valley Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,363 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $18,345. Set against $6,363 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lewis And Clark Community College placed #10 among the best values for biological & physical sciences. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $8,315. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $27,320. Set against $8,315 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College landed the #11 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $10,984. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $29,069. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Suburban College placed #12 among the best values for biological & physical sciences. South Suburban College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of South Holland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,093, while out-of-state students pay about $12,683. Students borrow a median of $8,271 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $42,425. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College generally make around $24,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Richland Community College came in at #14 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,680, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $9,562. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $46,233. Set against $9,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shawnee Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Set in the rural area of Ullin, Shawnee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,650, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,162 in student loans. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $39,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College placed #16 among the best values for biological & physical sciences. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $13,289. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $60,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Land Community College landed the #17 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $10,000. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $43,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Highland Community College Freeport came in at #18 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,936, with out-of-state students paying around $7,360. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $13,783. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Highland Community College Freeport earn a median of $46,384 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,783 median debt.
Joliet Junior College earned the #19 position for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $6,500. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $30,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College earned the #20 position for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $7,727. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College came in at #21 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College earn a median of $26,939 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Prairie State College landed the #22 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, while out-of-state students pay about $11,064. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. That is a strong return on a $15,663 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $9,500. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earn a median of $21,207 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Waubonsee Community College came in at #24 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,504, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,067 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Waubonsee Community College generally make around $24,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Illinois College earned the #25 position for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the rural area of Harrisburg, Southeastern Illinois College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $6,780. Median earnings reach $33,763 ten years out.
Rest of the Top 44 Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for biological & physical sciences this year:
More Biological & Physical Sciences Rankings
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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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 34 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.
