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2027 Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Chemical & Physical Oceanography](/majors/physical-sciences/geological-and-earth-sciences/oceanography-chemical-and-physical/) 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 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2027 Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in chemical & physical oceanography, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools

1

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

$18,848 In-State Tuition & Fees

$17,875 Avg Student Debt

$83,648 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among chemical & physical oceanography schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $17,875. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $66,254. Set against $17,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.

2

University Of Wisconsin Madison
Madison, WI

$11,603 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,000 Avg Student Debt

$73,792 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in chemical & physical oceanography will find it at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the chemical & physical oceanography program here. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $43,068 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.

View All Chemical & Physical Oceanography Rankings >

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 · 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.