2027 Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools in Virginia
[Biological & Physical Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/biological-physical-science/biological-and-physical-sciences/) 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 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value biological & physical sciences schools.
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2027 Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the biological & physical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Biological & Physical Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked Virginia Western Community College the best value for a degree in biological & physical sciences in Virginia. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, compared with $11,838 for out-of-state students. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $7,334 in student loans. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $27,786 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,334 median debt.
Wytheville Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Set in the town of Wytheville, Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Students borrow a median of $9,542 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Wytheville Community College earn a median of $40,973 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,542 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes J Sargeant Reynolds Community College one of the best values for biological & physical sciences. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Students borrow a median of $10,948 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $23,059. Set against $10,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in biological & physical sciences will find it at John Tyler Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $36,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Lord Fairfax Community College one of the best values for biological & physical sciences. Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Middletown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,072, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Students borrow a median of $8,400 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $37,850. That is a strong return on a $8,400 median debt.
Piedmont Virginia Community College came in at #6 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Typical student debt for biological & physical sciences graduates is $12,495. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Piedmont Virginia Community College generally make around $46,129. Set against $12,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Virginia Community College came in at #7 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,075, with out-of-state students paying around $11,513. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $32,277. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
New River Community College placed #8 among the best values for biological & physical sciences. New River Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Dublin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,979, with out-of-state students paying around $11,417. Students borrow a median of $13,132 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of New River Community College earn a median of $46,892 early in their careers. Set against $13,132 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Thomas Nelson Community College placed #9 among the best values for biological & physical sciences. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,088, compared with $11,526 for out-of-state students. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,400 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Thomas Nelson Community College generally make around $25,468. Set against $10,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Virginias College At Wise came in at #10 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the town of Wise, The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,780, while out-of-state students pay about $28,010. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $17,714 in student loans. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of The University Of Virginias College At Wise earn a median of $43,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Virginias College At Wise admits about 28% of applicants.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #11 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $21,923. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
George Mason University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value biological & physical sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $63,131. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Tidewater Community College came in at #13 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Students borrow a median of $9,787 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $30,605 early in their careers. Set against $9,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave earned the #14 position for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $12,084. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,650 in student loans. Biological & Physical Sciences graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave earn a median of $40,020 early in their careers. Set against $8,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Virginia Wesleyan College earned the #15 position for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia Wesleyan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,925 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Virginia Wesleyan College generally make around $45,517. That is a strong return on a $27,925 median debt. Virginia Wesleyan College admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #16 spot for biological & physical sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Early-career biological & physical sciences graduates make about $69,126. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #17 for value in biological & physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,975 to complete the biological & physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical sciences degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $36,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
More Biological & Physical Sciences Rankings
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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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
