2026 Best Value Microbiology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Microbiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/microbiological-sciences-immunology/microbiology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong microbiology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for microbiology students.
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2026 Best Value Microbiology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the microbiology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Microbiology Schools
Leading the list is Rutgers University New Brunswick, our #1 best value for microbiology in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $25,120. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $58,402. That is a strong return on a $25,120 median debt. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in microbiology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $19,800. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $46,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George Washington University earned it the #3 place for microbiology. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $22,910. Microbiology graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. Set against $22,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 47%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Drexel University earned it the #4 place for microbiology. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $28,838. Microbiology graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $72,281 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 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.
