2026 Best Value Molecular Biology Schools in the The Plains States 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for molecular biology students.
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2026 Best Value Molecular Biology Schools in the The Plains States 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
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #1 spot for value among molecular biology schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for molecular biology graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $37,830. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in molecular biology will find it at University Of Kansas, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $18,004 in student loans. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $41,487. That is a strong return on a $18,004 median debt. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #3 place for molecular biology. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $21,626 in student loans. Early-career molecular biology graduates make about $29,991. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
