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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

9 Ranked Colleges
341 Degrees Awarded
$25,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 the Plains States region, there were 3,094 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,917 and $23,900 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 341 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,701 and $106,703 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 9 colleges that offer a degree in physical sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality physical sciences programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the physical sciences program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 9 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 9 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a public institution located in Rolla, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Missouri University of Science and Technology has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 9 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Iowa State University is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 44 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also took the #2 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948.

Full Iowa State University Physical Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 21 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Columbia are $27,193, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Mizzou

#5

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMSL are $30,154.

Read more about Physical Sciences at UMSL

#6

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#5 in overall quality

Kansas State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Kansas State University are $24,115.

Read more about Physical Sciences at K -State

#7

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Kansas Physical Sciences Report

#8

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#9 in overall quality

Wichita State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wichita State University are $15,112.

Full WSU Physical Sciences Report

#7 in overall quality

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

SD Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are $19,250, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

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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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