[Natural Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural sciences education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 47 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value natural sciences schools.
Finding the Best Value Natural Sciences School for You
The natural sciences program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Natural Sciences Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Natural Sciences Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
For return on investment in natural sciences, no school beat California State University Los Angeles this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $39,870 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,430 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in natural sciences will find it at Kapiolani Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,284, compared with $8,420 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,738 to complete the natural sciences program here. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $48,210. That is a strong return on a $14,738 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Leeward Community College earned it the #3 place for natural sciences. Set in the suburb of Pearl City, Leeward Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,350. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,068 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Leeward Community College earn a median of $21,784 early in their careers. Set against $11,068 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #4 place for natural sciences. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $40,788. Set against $10,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Honolulu Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, Honolulu Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,174 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,310 for out-of-state students. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,868 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Honolulu Community College earn a median of $59,006 early in their careers. Set against $10,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bucks County Community College placed #6 among the best values for natural sciences. Located in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $13,926. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,068 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Bucks County Community College earn a median of $37,711 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Haskell Indian Nations University earned the #7 position for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, Haskell Indian Nations University is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $600 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Haskell Indian Nations University generally make around $24,914. Haskell Indian Nations University admits about 90% of applicants.
Massasoit Community College earned the #8 position for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,376, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $10,129. Natural Sciences graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $29,587 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,129 median debt.
Erie Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Students borrow a median of $12,580 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Erie Community College generally make around $37,069. Set against $12,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Laramie County Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Cheyenne. In-state tuition and fees average $4,613, while out-of-state students pay about $10,913. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $15,309. Natural Sciences graduates of Laramie County Community College earn a median of $51,302 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Public University System came in at #11 for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Students borrow a median of $23,438 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Hawaii Maui College earned the #12 position for value in natural sciences this year. Set in the city of Kahului, University Of Hawaii Maui College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,284, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Students borrow a median of $11,824 to complete the natural sciences program here. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $51,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az landed the #13 spot for natural sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $15,996. Natural Sciences graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rio Salado College placed #14 among the best values for natural sciences. Set in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Students borrow a median of $13,679 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. Set against $13,679 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Windward Community College earned the #15 position for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Kaneohe, Windward Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,194, with out-of-state students paying around $8,330. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,930 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Windward Community College earn a median of $32,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,930 median debt.
Mohave Community College earned the #16 position for value in natural sciences this year. Set in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,208, while out-of-state students pay about $7,968. Students borrow a median of $14,766 to complete the natural sciences program here. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $54,785. That is a strong return on a $14,766 median debt.
College Of Western Idaho came in at #17 for value in natural sciences this year. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,446, compared with $7,454 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,497 to complete the natural sciences program here. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $40,963.
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Located in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,324. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $5,673 in student loans. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $24,881. Set against $5,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #19 for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,083 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,892. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,439 in student loans. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $50,963. That is a strong return on a $23,439 median debt.
Dominican University came in at #20 for value in natural sciences this year. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. Students borrow a median of $25,054 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $27,081. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
San Jacinto Community College earned the #21 position for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $11,376. Natural Sciences graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bayamon Central University came in at #22 for value in natural sciences this year. Set in the city of Bayamón, Bayamon Central University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,986. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $12,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Bayamon Central University generally make around $14,326. That is a strong return on a $12,125 median debt. Bayamon Central University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Puerto Rico Cayey landed the #23 spot for natural sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Cayey, University Of Puerto Rico Cayey is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the natural sciences program here. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Cayey generally make around $11,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro placed #24 among the best values for natural sciences. Set in the city of San Juan, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,780. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,666 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro earn a median of $30,631 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro admits about 70% of applicants.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bayamon. In-state tuition and fees average $5,780. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $10,051. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Bayamon generally make around $22,810. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Rest of the Top 47 Best Value Natural Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s natural sciences value ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 47 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).
[Natural Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural sciences education at a price that pays off.
