2026 Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Southeast Region
[Biological & Physical Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/biological-physical-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 56 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value biological & physical science schools.
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2026 Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in biological & physical science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Biological & Physical Science Schools
Leading the list is New College Of Florida, our #1 best value for biological & physical science in the Southeast Region. New College Of Florida is a small public school located in the city of Sarasota. In-state tuition and fees average $6,916, with out-of-state students paying around $29,944. Typical student debt for biological & physical science graduates is $19,500. Early-career biological & physical science graduates make about $32,858. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. New College Of Florida admits about 73% of applicants.
Lord Fairfax Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical science schools. Set in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,072, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. Biological & Physical Science graduates carry a median of $8,400 in student loans. Biological & Physical Science graduates of Lord Fairfax Community College earn a median of $37,850 early in their careers. Set against $8,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for biological & physical science. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Biological & Physical Science graduates carry a median of $20,212 in student loans. Biological & Physical Science graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical science schools. Located in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Students borrow a median of $10,948 to complete the biological & physical science program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical science degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $23,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Western Community College earned it the #5 place for biological & physical science. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, compared with $11,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical science graduates is $7,334. Soon after graduation, biological & physical science degree recipients from Virginia Western Community College generally make around $27,786. Set against $7,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
John Tyler Community College landed the #6 spot for biological & physical science value this year. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Biological & Physical Science graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & physical science degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. That is a strong return on a $11,262 median debt.
Florida International University came in at #7 for value in biological & physical science this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Biological & Physical Science graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Biological & Physical Science graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Piedmont Virginia Community College placed #8 among the best values for biological & physical science. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical science graduates is $12,495. Soon after graduation, biological & physical science degree recipients from Piedmont Virginia Community College generally make around $46,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tidewater Community College earned the #9 position for value in biological & physical science this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Typical student debt for biological & physical science graduates is $9,787. Early-career biological & physical science graduates make about $30,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Virginia Community College placed #10 among the best values for biological & physical science. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the biological & physical science program here. Early-career biological & physical science graduates make about $21,923. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Thomas Nelson Community College placed #11 among the best values for biological & physical science. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,088, with out-of-state students paying around $11,526. Biological & Physical Science graduates carry a median of $10,400 in student loans. Early-career biological & physical science graduates make about $25,468. That is a strong return on a $10,400 median debt.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave placed #12 among the best values for biological & physical science. Set in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,084. Typical student debt for biological & physical science graduates is $8,650. Biological & Physical Science graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave earn a median of $40,020 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Virginias College At Wise placed #13 among the best values for biological & physical science. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,010. Students borrow a median of $17,714 to complete the biological & physical science program here. Early-career biological & physical science graduates make about $43,988. Set against $17,714 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 28%.
University Of Georgia placed #14 among the best values for biological & physical science. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $20,600 to complete the biological & physical science program here. Biological & Physical Science graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $25,508 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,600 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #15 position for value in biological & physical science this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & physical science graduates is $17,750. Biological & Physical Science graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $31,125 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & physical science schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $26,975 to complete the biological & physical science program here. Soon after graduation, biological & physical science 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%.
Virginia Wesleyan College earned the #17 position for value in biological & physical science this year. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,500. Typical student debt for biological & physical science graduates is $27,925. Early-career biological & physical science graduates make about $45,517. Set against $27,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #18 spot for biological & physical science value this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Typical student debt for biological & physical science graduates is $18,627. Biological & Physical Science graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
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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 · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
