2027 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in Illinois
[Physical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for physical sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in physical sciences in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $22,482. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $37,280 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,597 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $73,425. Set against $21,597 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Western Illinois University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $31,980. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Illinois University earned it the #5 place for physical sciences. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,537 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $43,061 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,537 median debt. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #6 spot for physical sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $46,659. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for physical sciences value this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Lewis University placed #8 among the best values for physical sciences. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $22,781. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $55,718. That is a strong return on a $22,781 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Illinois State University came in at #9 for value in physical sciences this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $49,660. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Bradley University came in at #10 for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $54,513. That is a strong return on a $26,380 median debt. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois placed #11 among the best values for physical sciences. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,764 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Augustana College Illinois generally make around $39,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #12 spot for physical sciences value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,557 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $29,160. Set against $26,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #13 for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $43,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University placed #14 among the best values for physical sciences. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $90,302. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #15 for value in physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Physical Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
