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2026 Best Value Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Physical Science](/majors/physical-sciences/general-physical-sciences/physical-science/) 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 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physical science students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2026 Best Value Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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

Best Value Physical Science Schools

1

North Central Michigan College
Petoskey, MI

$5,430 In-State Tuition & Fees

$12,398 Avg Student Debt

$36,594 Median Earnings (10yr)

North Central Michigan College earned the #1 spot for value among physical science schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Petoskey, North Central Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,430 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Physical Science graduates carry a median of $12,398 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical science degree recipients from North Central Michigan College generally make around $42,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

Jackson Community College
Jackson, MI

$7,350 In-State Tuition & Fees

$16,960 Avg Student Debt

$36,898 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in physical science will find it at Jackson Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, while out-of-state students pay about $10,200. Typical student debt for physical science graduates is $16,960. Early-career physical science graduates make about $41,322. Set against $16,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

View All Physical Science Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 15 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.