2026 Best Value Environmental Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Environmental Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/environmental-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 68 schools to find the best return on investment for environmental biology students.
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2026 Best Value Environmental Biology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in environmental biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Environmental Biology Schools
For return on investment in environmental biology, no school beat California State Polytechnic University Pomona this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,781, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental biology graduates is $13,750. Environmental Biology graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $49,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental biology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental biology graduates is $16,672. Early-career environmental biology graduates make about $65,681. That is a strong return on a $16,672 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in environmental biology will find it at East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of East Stroudsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,236, compared with $19,202 for out-of-state students. Environmental Biology graduates carry a median of $18,783 in student loans. Environmental Biology graduates of East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $35,762 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon earned it the #4 place for environmental biology. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bayamon. Students from in state pay about $5,780 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental biology graduates is $10,051. Environmental Biology graduates of Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon earn a median of $22,810 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
A rank of #5 makes Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry one of the best values for environmental biology. Located in the city of Syracuse, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,303 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,263 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,763. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Unity College landed the #6 spot for environmental biology value this year. Unity College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Gloucester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,640. Environmental Biology graduates carry a median of $27,083 in student loans. Environmental Biology graduates of Unity College earn a median of $36,144 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental biology schools. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the environmental biology program here. Early-career environmental biology graduates make about $35,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University earned the #8 position for value in environmental biology this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Environmental Biology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career environmental biology graduates make about $29,318. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #9 spot for environmental biology value this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,461 to complete the environmental biology program here. Soon after graduation, environmental biology degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $27,770. Set against $23,461 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis earned the #10 position for value in environmental biology this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the environmental biology program here. Soon after graduation, environmental biology degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Boston University earned the #11 position for value in environmental biology this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental biology graduates is $25,000. Environmental Biology graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of Dayton earned the #12 position for value in environmental biology this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the environmental biology program here. Environmental Biology graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $23,609 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Monmouth University earned the #13 position for value in environmental biology this year. Set in the suburb of West Long Branch, Monmouth University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,552 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental biology graduates is $27,000. Early-career environmental biology graduates make about $25,004. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Monmouth University admits about 89% of applicants.
Other Environmental Biology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Environmental Biology rankings across degree levels:
View All Environmental Biology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 68 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.
