2026 Best Value Molecular Biology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Molecular Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/biochemistry-biophysics-molecular-biology/molecular-biology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value molecular biology schools.
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2026 Best Value Molecular Biology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the molecular biology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Molecular Biology Schools
Princeton University tops our 2026 list of the best value molecular biology schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Typical student debt for molecular biology graduates is $10,888. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $41,848. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johns Hopkins University earned it the #2 place for molecular biology. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the molecular biology program here. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $63,355. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Montclair State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value molecular biology schools. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the molecular biology program here. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $41,068. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in molecular biology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. Typical student debt for molecular biology graduates is $19,250. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $30,275. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
Stony Brook University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in molecular biology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $18,968 in student loans. Early-career molecular biology graduates make about $29,649. That is a strong return on a $18,968 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
University At Buffalo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value molecular biology schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the molecular biology program here. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #7 for value in molecular biology this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $46,122. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Westminster College Pa ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value molecular biology schools. Westminster College Pa is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Wilmington. In-state tuition and fees average $40,290. Students borrow a median of $26,528 to complete the molecular biology program here. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Westminster College Pa generally make around $41,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Messiah College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value molecular biology schools. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. Students from in state pay about $42,240 in tuition and fees. Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans. Molecular Biology graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $48,957 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Messiah College admits about 79% of applicants.
Seton Hall University came in at #10 for value in molecular biology this year. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the molecular biology program here. Molecular Biology graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $63,871 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Colgate University landed the #11 spot for molecular biology value this year. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,306. Students borrow a median of $15,350 to complete the molecular biology program here. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $44,089. That is a strong return on a $15,350 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #12 spot for molecular biology value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $26,558 in student loans. Early-career molecular biology graduates make about $33,554. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University earned the #13 position for value in molecular biology this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Early-career molecular biology graduates make about $75,976. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University came in at #14 for value in molecular biology this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,980. Typical student debt for molecular biology graduates is $20,710. Early-career molecular biology graduates make about $70,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 26%.
George Washington University earned the #15 position for value in molecular biology 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. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete the molecular biology program here. Molecular Biology graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $59,887 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Drexel University came in at #16 for value in molecular biology this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Typical student debt for molecular biology graduates is $28,838. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $67,556. Set against $28,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Yeshiva University came in at #17 for value in molecular biology this year. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,800. Typical student debt for molecular biology graduates is $20,625. Molecular Biology graduates of Yeshiva University earn a median of $52,838 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 22 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.
