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2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 52,879 people earned their degree in physical sciences, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. 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 $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 9 colleges that offer 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region doctor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 9 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1

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 #1 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. 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.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UMN Twin Cities

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Rolla, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 25 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

Missouri University of Science and Technology also took the #3 spot 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 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 44 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 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 Iowa State University are $25,948.

Full Iowa State University Physical Sciences Report

#4

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #4 spot on the list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMSL, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - St Louis are $30,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UMSL Physical Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 doctorate’s 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.

Full Mizzou Physical Sciences Report

#6

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#5 in overall quality

Kansas State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 doctorate’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kansas State University are $24,115, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Kansas State University

#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 $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 31 doctorate’s physical sciences 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 University of Kansas are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Kansas

#7 in overall quality

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, this small public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

SD Mines not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are $19,250.

Read more about Physical Sciences at SD Mines

#9

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#9 in overall quality

Wichita State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this fairly large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

WSU also made our “Best Physical Sciences Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wichita State University are $15,112, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full WSU Physical Sciences Report

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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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