by our College Data Analytics Team
[Biophysics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/biochemistry-biophysics-molecular-biology/biophysics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong biophysics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for biophysics students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the biophysics degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in biophysics, no school beat Princeton University this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $10,888. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $41,848. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland College Park earned it the #2 place for biophysics. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Biophysics graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $48,721 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in biophysics will find it at New Jersey Institute Of Technology, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,974, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,755 to complete the biophysics program here. Biophysics graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,549 early in their careers. Set against $24,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Towson University earned it the #4 place for biophysics. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the biophysics program here. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $50,370. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value biophysics schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $63,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Stony Brook University came in at #6 for value in biophysics this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $18,968 in student loans. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $60,047. Set against $18,968 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
University At Buffalo landed the #7 spot for biophysics value this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the biophysics program here. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $52,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #8 position for value in biophysics this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the biophysics program here. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Rowan University placed #9 among the best values for biophysics. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the biophysics program here. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $52,031. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
Swarthmore College placed #10 among the best values for biophysics. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,494. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $19,500. Biophysics graduates of Swarthmore College earn a median of $66,971 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Temple University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value biophysics schools. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $45,994. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Cornell University placed #12 among the best values for biophysics. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $75,976. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value biophysics schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $16,155. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College landed the #14 spot for biophysics value this year. Set in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,888. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $17,609. Biophysics graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $50,790 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,609 median debt. Barnard College admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Rochester came in at #15 for value in biophysics this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $21,517. Biophysics graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of Scranton came in at #16 for value in biophysics this year. Set in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,777. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $56,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
George Washington University came in at #17 for value in biophysics this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Typical student debt for biophysics graduates is $22,910. Early-career biophysics graduates make about $59,887. That is a strong return on a $22,910 median debt. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University earned the #18 position for value in biophysics this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Biophysics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Biophysics graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Bucknell University earned the #19 position for value in biophysics this year. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,812. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete the biophysics program here. Soon after graduation, biophysics degree recipients from Bucknell University generally make around $64,331. Set against $25,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bucknell University admits about 29% of applicants.
Georgetown University placed #20 among the best values for biophysics. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete the biophysics program here. Biophysics graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $66,282 early in their careers. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.