2026 Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Master’s Degree Schools
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools to find the best return on investment for chemical & physical oceanography students.
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2026 Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in chemical & physical oceanography, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools
University Of South Florida Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools in the United States. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $24,002. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $48,565. Set against $24,002 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the best values for chemical & physical oceanography. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete the chemical & physical oceanography program here. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $61,361 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete the chemical & physical oceanography program here. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $51,884. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California San Diego one of the best values for chemical & physical oceanography. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $79,645. That is a strong return on a $17,101 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Students looking for strong value in chemical & physical oceanography will find it at University Of Alaska Fairbanks, which ranked #5. University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public school located in the city of Fairbanks. Students from in state pay about $10,083 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,892 for out-of-state students. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $23,439 in student loans. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $50,963. That is a strong return on a $23,439 median debt.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $20,500. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $29,724 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #7 for value in chemical & physical oceanography this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Students borrow a median of $20,577 to complete the chemical & physical oceanography program here. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $48,181 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #8 among the best values for chemical & physical oceanography. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $17,875 to complete the chemical & physical oceanography program here. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $17,875 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #9 spot for chemical & physical oceanography value this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $20,833. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $43,362 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,833 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of Southern Mississippi placed #10 among the best values for chemical & physical oceanography. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,998, with out-of-state students paying around $11,998. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $25,415. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $52,338. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #11 spot for chemical & physical oceanography value this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $43,068. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $38,459. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
University Of Rhode Island earned the #13 position for value in chemical & physical oceanography this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $23,432. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $52,821. Set against $23,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $42,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #15 position for value in chemical & physical oceanography this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $20,837. Soon after graduation, chemical & physical oceanography degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $70,539. That is a strong return on a $20,837 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Connecticut ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical & physical oceanography schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $23,637. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $58,784. That is a strong return on a $23,637 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earned the #17 position for value in chemical & physical oceanography this year. Located in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Students borrow a median of $26,368 to complete the chemical & physical oceanography program here. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $52,064. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #18 spot for chemical & physical oceanography value this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $24,830. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $47,045. Set against $24,830 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Miami landed the #19 spot for chemical & physical oceanography value this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,616 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for chemical & physical oceanography graduates is $17,750. Early-career chemical & physical oceanography graduates make about $57,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
Other Chemical & Physical Oceanography Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Chemical & Physical Oceanography rankings across degree levels:
View All Chemical & Physical Oceanography Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
