2026 Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools in Virginia
[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.
College Factual analyzed 24 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 Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in biological & physical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools in Virginia. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Students borrow a median of $10,948 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $23,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lord Fairfax Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Located in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, with out-of-state students paying around $11,510. Students borrow a median of $8,400 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $37,850. That is a strong return on a $8,400 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at John Tyler Community College earned it the #3 place for biological & physical sciences. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $11,262. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of John Tyler Community College earn a median of $36,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in biological & physical sciences will find it at Virginia Western Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $7,334 in student loans. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $27,786 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,334 median debt.
Piedmont Virginia Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in biological & physical sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Students from in state pay about $5,072 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,510. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $12,495 in student loans. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $46,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thomas Nelson Community College landed the #6 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,088, with out-of-state students paying around $11,526. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $10,400. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Thomas Nelson Community College generally make around $25,468. That is a strong return on a $10,400 median debt.
Tidewater Community College landed the #7 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $9,787. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $30,605. That is a strong return on a $9,787 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #8 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $21,923. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Weyers Cave. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,084. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $8,650. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $40,020. Set against $8,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Virginias College At Wise earned the #10 position for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Wise, The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,780 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,010 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,714 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from The University Of Virginias College At Wise generally make around $43,988. Set against $17,714 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 28%.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #11 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $26,975 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $36,709 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #12 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,500. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,925 in student loans. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Virginia Wesleyan College earn a median of $45,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,925 median debt. Virginia Wesleyan College admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $18,627. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
