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2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

13 Ranked Colleges
1,125 Degrees Awarded
$14,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Physical Sciences is the 18th most popular major in the country with 52,879 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $38,122 and had an average of $22,339 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 1,704 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $44,790 and $21,894 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,125 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 13 colleges that offered a degree in physical sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent 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 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.

More Ways to Rank Physical Sciences Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $1,866 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Northwestern University

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 145 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $2,712 for illinois bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Chicago.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UChicago

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 309 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $5,477 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Physical Sciences at UIUC

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #4 spot on the list. SIUE is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $8,055 for illinois bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUE.

Read more about Physical Sciences at SIUE

#9 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #5 spot on the list. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 51 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $10,648 for illinois bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at UIC

#6

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU also made our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $15,281 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Physical Sciences at NIU

#7

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Illinois State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Illinois State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,470 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois State University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Full Illinois State Physical Sciences Report

#11 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC also made our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $13,658 for illinois bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUC.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at SIUC

#9

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Western Illinois University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,942 for illinois bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Illinois University.

Read more about Physical Sciences at WIU

#5 in overall quality

Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,222 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois Tech.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Illinois Institute of Technology Physical Sciences Report

#11

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Columbia College Chicago ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 3 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia also made our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Columbia is $27,120 for illinois bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Columbia

#12

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Loyola Chicago has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $29,440 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Loyola Chicago.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Loyola Chicago

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. DePaul is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 12 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $26,173 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DePaul University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at DePaul University

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to NASA.

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