2027 Best Value Population Biology Schools
[Population Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/population-biology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value population biology schools.
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Finding the Best Value Population Biology School for You
Where you study population biology affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Population Biology Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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Customize Your Rankings
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Population Biology Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
2027 Best Value Population Biology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in population biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Population Biology Schools
Leading the list is University Of California Davis, our #1 best value for population biology in the United States. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Population Biology graduates carry a median of $19,951 in student loans. Early-career population biology graduates make about $32,161. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
A rank of #2 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the best values for population biology. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for population biology graduates is $23,659. Population Biology graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $47,456 early in their careers. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in population biology will find it at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for population biology graduates is $13,426. Early-career population biology graduates make about $84,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Saint Vincent College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value population biology schools. Set in the suburb of Latrobe, Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,396. Typical student debt for population biology graduates is $26,986. Soon after graduation, population biology degree recipients from Saint Vincent College generally make around $54,916. Set against $26,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
