Finding the Best Value Behavioral Science School for You
The behavioral science program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Behavioral Science Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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2026 Best Value Behavioral Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the behavioral science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Behavioral Science Schools
Leading the list is California State University Dominguez Hills, our #1 best value for behavioral science in the United States. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the behavioral science program here. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $52,683. Set against $15,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
Imperial Valley College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,126, compared with $8,830 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $6,176. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $42,617. Set against $6,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in behavioral science, landing the #3 spot this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $9,264. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $33,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in behavioral science will find it at Chabot College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $14,122. Behavioral Science graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,122 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes American River College one of the best values for behavioral science. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $14,105. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $76,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Snow College earned the #6 position for value in behavioral science this year. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $10,440. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #7 for value in behavioral science this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $15,117. Behavioral Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $61,361 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
San Jose State University placed #8 among the best values for behavioral science. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Purdue University Northwest landed the #9 spot for behavioral science value this year. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $16,012. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $28,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
Clovis Community College placed #10 among the best values for behavioral science. Located in the town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,592, compared with $3,344 for out-of-state students. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $11,082 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Clovis Community College generally make around $44,390. Set against $11,082 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Houston Clear Lake earned the #11 position for value in behavioral science this year. University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $8,346, while out-of-state students pay about $22,290. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $27,224 in student loans. Behavioral Science graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $32,986 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,224 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Vincennes University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $11,371 in student loans. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $45,976. Set against $11,371 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #13 for value in behavioral science this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $68,047. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Temple College placed #14 among the best values for behavioral science. Set in the city of Temple, Temple College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,524. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $16,617 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Temple College generally make around $55,262. Set against $16,617 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mohave Community College landed the #15 spot for behavioral science value this year. Located in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,208 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,968. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $14,766 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Mohave Community College generally make around $54,785. That is a strong return on a $14,766 median debt.
Hill College earned the #16 position for value in behavioral science this year. Located in the town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,862. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the behavioral science program here. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $39,212. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt.
Eastern Washington University came in at #17 for value in behavioral science this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,586 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Students borrow a median of $21,754 to complete the behavioral science program here. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $47,144. Set against $21,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis Clark State College earned the #18 position for value in behavioral science this year. Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lewiston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,610, while out-of-state students pay about $22,028. Behavioral Science graduates carry a median of $23,781 in student loans. Soon after graduation, behavioral science degree recipients from Lewis Clark State College generally make around $44,496. That is a strong return on a $23,781 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University came in at #19 for value in behavioral science this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Students borrow a median of $27,639 to complete the behavioral science program here. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $47,926. That is a strong return on a $27,639 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #20 among the best values for behavioral science. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete the behavioral science program here. Behavioral Science graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
Granite State College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value behavioral science schools. Set in the city of Manchester, Granite State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,724 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,284. Students borrow a median of $27,522 to complete the behavioral science program here. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $55,121. That is a strong return on a $27,522 median debt.
Harvard University landed the #22 spot for behavioral science value this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the behavioral science program here. Behavioral Science graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $87,946 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #23 among the best values for behavioral science. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for behavioral science graduates is $24,619. Early-career behavioral science graduates make about $50,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
South Mountain Community College landed the #24 spot for behavioral science value this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,825 ten years after entry.
Fitchburg State University placed #25 among the best values for behavioral science. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Students from in state pay about $11,346 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Students borrow a median of $25,840 to complete the behavioral science program here. Behavioral Science graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $48,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Behavioral Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s behavioral science value ranking:
Narrow Behavioral Science Schools by Region
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 145 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 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.
[Behavioral Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/behavioral-science/) 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.
