2026 Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region
[Chemical & Physical Oceanography](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/oceanography-chemical-and-physical/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools.
What’s on this page:
ADVERTISEMENTS
Featured Chemical & Physical Oceanography Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BS in Geosciences
Gain the analytical, technical and science communications skills you need to begin your career with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn More
2026 Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the chemical & physical oceanography degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools
Leading the list is University Of South Florida Main Campus, our #1 best value for chemical & physical oceanography in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $24,002 in student loans. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $48,565. Set against $24,002 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Florida State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in chemical & physical oceanography, landing the #2 spot this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $51,884. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $61,361. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Old Dominion University earned it the #4 place for chemical & physical oceanography. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $26,001. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $57,131. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Southern Mississippi came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,998, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the chemical & physical oceanography program here. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi generally make around $52,338. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $22,234. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $38,871. Set against $22,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #7 spot for chemical & physical oceanography value this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $38,459 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #8 position for value in chemical & physical oceanography this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,954 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $19,500. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $42,218. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Miami landed the #9 spot for chemical & physical oceanography value this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $57,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
Narrow Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools by State
More Chemical & Physical Oceanography Rankings
View All Chemical & Physical Oceanography Rankings >
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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
