2027 Best Value Natural Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region
[Natural Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/natural-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value natural sciences schools.
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2027 Best Value Natural Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Sciences Schools
For return on investment in natural sciences, no school beat College Of The Mainland this year. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the natural sciences program here. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Set against $15,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mohave Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Kingman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,208, with out-of-state students paying around $7,968. Typical student debt for natural sciences graduates is $14,766. Natural Sciences graduates of Mohave Community College earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rio Salado College earned it the #4 place for natural sciences. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,679 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural sciences, landing the #5 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, 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. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Mesa Community College earned the #6 position for value in natural sciences this year. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. 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 $13,750. Natural Sciences graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Phoenix College landed the #7 spot for natural sciences value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $51,053. That is a strong return on a $15,204 median debt.
Paradise Valley Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $14,204 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Paradise Valley Community College generally make around $71,136. That is a strong return on a $14,204 median debt.
Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #9 for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,752 in student loans. Early-career natural sciences graduates make about $78,359. That is a strong return on a $21,752 median debt.
Chandler Gilbert Community College earned the #10 position for value in natural sciences this year. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Chandler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,447 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of $46,943 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,447 median debt.
Scottsdale Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value natural sciences schools. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $48,039 early in their careers. Set against $13,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Mountain Community College placed #12 among the best values for natural sciences. South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. 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.
West Texas A And M University came in at #13 for value in natural sciences this year. West Texas A And M University is a large public school located in the town of Canyon. In-state tuition and fees average $9,101, compared with $10,996 for out-of-state students. Natural Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,333 in student loans. Natural Sciences graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $43,515 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,333 median debt. West Texas A And M University admits about 99% of applicants.
Texas Christian University earned the #14 position for value in natural sciences this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete the natural sciences program here. Natural Sciences graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
