2026 Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 60 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value biological & physical sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in biological & physical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for biological & physical sciences in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $10,348. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $36,362. Set against $10,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values for biological & physical sciences. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in biological & physical sciences will find it at Hudson County Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,384, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $6,128 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Hudson County Community College generally make around $19,269. Set against $6,128 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in biological & physical sciences will find it at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Abington, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,268 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,664. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. The acceptance rate is 97%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sussex County Community College earned it the #5 place for biological & physical sciences. Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Newton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,544, with out-of-state students paying around $9,024. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Sussex County Community College earn a median of $27,179 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,750 median debt.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus came in at #6 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,419 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $25,311. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Genesee Community College earned the #7 position for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,900, compared with $6,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,991 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $40,106. Set against $15,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The Community College Of Baltimore County landed the #8 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, while out-of-state students pay about $10,182. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $52,440. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pennsylvania Western University landed the #9 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,295. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #10 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $25,120. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $96,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Reading, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,972, compared with $26,958 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Touro College came in at #12 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the city of New York, Touro College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,052. Students borrow a median of $20,285 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Touro College generally make around $15,051. That is a strong return on a $20,285 median debt. Touro College admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #13 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $26,000. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $34,380 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Bard College earned the #14 position for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson. Students from in state pay about $66,436 in tuition and fees. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Bard College earn a median of $39,296 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University came in at #16 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $14,750. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $22,631. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 13%.
Fordham University placed #17 among the best values for biological & physical sciences. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $29,958. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
