2027 Best Value Polymer Chemistry Schools

[Polymer Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/polymer-chemistry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for polymer chemistry students.
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Finding the Best Value Polymer Chemistry School for You
The right polymer chemistry school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Polymer Chemistry Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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2027 Best Value Polymer Chemistry Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in polymer chemistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Polymer Chemistry Schools
For return on investment in polymer chemistry, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for polymer chemistry graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, polymer chemistry degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $85,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Dakota State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for polymer chemistry. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete the polymer chemistry program here. Early-career polymer chemistry graduates make about $54,076. Set against $25,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value polymer chemistry schools. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Polymer Chemistry graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, polymer chemistry degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $44,970. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Pittsburg State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value polymer chemistry schools. Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pittsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Typical student debt for polymer chemistry graduates is $22,669. Early-career polymer chemistry graduates make about $50,003. Set against $22,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in polymer chemistry, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for polymer chemistry graduates is $15,259. Polymer Chemistry graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value polymer chemistry schools. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the polymer chemistry program here. Early-career polymer chemistry graduates make about $66,985. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut landed the #7 spot for polymer chemistry value this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Typical student debt for polymer chemistry graduates is $26,158. Early-career polymer chemistry graduates make about $52,216. Set against $26,158 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value polymer chemistry schools. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Polymer Chemistry graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Polymer Chemistry graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University landed the #9 spot for polymer chemistry value this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Polymer Chemistry graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career polymer chemistry graduates make about $73,749. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.