2023 Best Value Colleges for Physical Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
16
Ranked Colleges
2,881
Degrees Awarded
$11,400
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Physical Sciences is the 19th most popular major in the country with 50,306 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $39,880 and had an average of $22,620 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 2,881 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,796 and $23,945 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in physical sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great physical sciences programs and cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Physical Sciences Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Physical Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 343 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
UMN Twin Cities also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $7,698 for Plains States Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 UMN Twin Cities Physical Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 129 degrees to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.
Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $9,766 for Plains States Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad 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%.
Read more about Physical Sciences at Iowa State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Minnesota - Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
UMN Morris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $3,941 for plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.
Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Minnesota - Morris
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 84 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth also made our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $7,843 for plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMN Duluth Physical Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carleton College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Carleton is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 61 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Carleton has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $6,208 for plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carleton College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Physical Sciences at Carleton College
St Olaf College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. St Olaf College is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Olaf has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,112 for plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St Olaf College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full St Olaf College Physical Sciences Report
University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMSL is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 27 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UMSL also made our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for UMSL is $9,991 for plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMSL Physical Sciences Report
University of Iowa ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 132 degrees to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,554 for Plains States Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Iowa.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physical Sciences at Iowa
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 94 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,005 for Plains States Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mizzou.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 full report on Physical Sciences at Mizzou
University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMKC is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 114 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,724 for Plains States Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMKC.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 Physical Sciences at University of Missouri - Kansas City
Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 119 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,381 for Plains States Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Full Missouri State Physical Sciences Report
Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 22 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Lindenwood University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $12,948 for Plains States Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physical Sciences at Lindenwood University
Wichita State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. WSU is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
WSU also made our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $11,687 for plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Physical Sciences at WSU
University of Kansas ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school handed out 106 degrees to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.
KU also made our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $15,666 for plains states region physical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full KU Physical Sciences Report
Winona State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Winona State is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
Winona State also made our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $11,721 for Plains States Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physical Sciences at Winona State University
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