2027 Best Value Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Physical Science](/majors/physical-sciences/general-physical-sciences/physical-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for physical science students.
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2027 Best Value Physical Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physical Science Schools
Jackson Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value physical science schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,350, compared with $10,200 for out-of-state students. Physical Science graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Physical Science graduates of Jackson Community College earn a median of $41,322 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Central Michigan College earned it the #2 place for physical science. Set in the town of Petoskey, North Central Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,430, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Physical Science graduates carry a median of $12,398 in student loans. Early-career physical science graduates make about $42,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
