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2022 Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k

12 Ranked Colleges
261 Degrees Awarded
$33,600 Avg Salary
Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

General Physical Sciences is the 135th most popular major in the country with 4,159 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, general physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,050 and had an average of $13,137 in loans still to pay off.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 261 general physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 12 colleges that offer a degree in general physical sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general physical sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general physical sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The physical science school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Physical Sciences (Income $48-$75k)

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State also made our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $7,549 for Bachelor’s Degree Physical Science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Fresno State.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Physical Sciences at California State University - Fresno

#2

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Emory University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Emory University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 6 bachelors’s physical science degrees in 2019-2020.

Emory also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Emory is $19,672 for bachelor’s degree physical science students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about General Physical Sciences at Emory

#3

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #3 spot on the list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for UC Santa Cruz is $15,253 for Bachelor’s Degree Physical Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz General Physical Sciences Report

#4

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kansas State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. K -State is a large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 7 bachelors’s physical science degrees in 2019-2020.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $16,889 for bachelor’s degree physical science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full K -State General Physical Sciences Report

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Stanislaus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Stanislaus is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 2 bachelors’s physical science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stan State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $7,772 for bachelor’s degree physical science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California State University - Stanislaus.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Physical Sciences at California State University - Stanislaus

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physical science degrees to 49 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Tempe, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $14,033 for Bachelor’s Degree Physical Science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend ASU - Tempe.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Physical Sciences at Arizona State University - Tempe

#7

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington
#9 in overall quality

Washington State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. Washington State University is located in Pullman, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s physical science degrees to qualified students.

Wazzu not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Washington State University is $15,548 for bachelor’s degree physical science students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Washington State University General Physical Sciences Report

#8

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s physical science degrees to qualified students.

Michigan State also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $20,696 for bachelor’s degree physical science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Michigan State.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Physical Sciences at Michigan State University

#9

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky
#10 in overall quality

Western Kentucky University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s physical science degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WKU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Kentucky University is $15,209 for Bachelor’s Degree Physical Science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on General Physical Sciences at WKU

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Pitt is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Pitt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $25,110 for Bachelor’s Degree Physical Science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Pitt.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Physical Sciences at Pitt

#11

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, New York

Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rochester, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

RIT also made our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $28,684 for bachelor’s degree physical science students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend RIT.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about General Physical Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology

#12

Rowan University

Glassboro, New Jersey
#7 in overall quality

Rowan University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physical Science Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Rowan University is a public institution located in Glassboro, New Jersey. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Rowan also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rowan University is $25,265 for bachelor’s degree physical science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Physical Sciences at Rowan University

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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