2027 Best Value Evolutionary Biology Master’s Degree Schools
[Evolutionary Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology/) 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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for evolutionary biology students.
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2027 Best Value Evolutionary Biology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in evolutionary biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Evolutionary Biology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for evolutionary biology in the United States. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $15,242 to complete the evolutionary biology program here. Early-career evolutionary biology graduates make about $62,981. That is a strong return on a $15,242 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for evolutionary biology. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the evolutionary biology program here. Evolutionary Biology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Michigan Technological University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in evolutionary biology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $25,800. Early-career evolutionary biology graduates make about $64,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of California Irvine came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value evolutionary biology schools. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete the evolutionary biology program here. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in evolutionary biology will find it at University Of California Davis, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Evolutionary Biology graduates carry a median of $19,951 in student loans. Evolutionary Biology graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,161 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Vanderbilt University earned the #6 position for value in evolutionary biology this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Evolutionary Biology graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Michigan University placed #7 among the best values for evolutionary biology. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $28,781. Evolutionary Biology graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $47,887 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #8 for value in evolutionary biology this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $18,887. Evolutionary Biology graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $25,810 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,887 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #9 for value in evolutionary biology this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the evolutionary biology program here. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $78,660. 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.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #10 position for value in evolutionary biology this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $25,174. Early-career evolutionary biology graduates make about $44,776. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #11 among the best values for evolutionary biology. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Students borrow a median of $23,461 to complete the evolutionary biology program here. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $52,933. Set against $23,461 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Temple University placed #12 among the best values for evolutionary biology. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Evolutionary Biology graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans. Evolutionary Biology graduates of Temple University earn a median of $66,828 early in their careers. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #13 among the best values for evolutionary biology. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $24,958. Evolutionary Biology graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $63,289 early in their careers. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Northeastern University landed the #14 spot for evolutionary biology value this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $25,611. Early-career evolutionary biology graduates make about $39,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Drexel University placed #15 among the best values for evolutionary biology. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the evolutionary biology program here. Evolutionary Biology graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Set against $28,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #16 spot for evolutionary biology value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Typical student debt for evolutionary biology graduates is $25,106. Soon after graduation, evolutionary biology degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Other Evolutionary Biology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value evolutionary biology schools at other degree levels:
View All Evolutionary Biology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
