2026 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in Maryland

[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for physical sciences students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in Maryland
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 Maryland College Park the best value for a degree in physical sciences in Maryland. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $20,810 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $42,687. That is a strong return on a $20,810 median debt. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physical sciences will find it at Towson University, which ranked #2. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,666 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $52,765. That is a strong return on a $23,666 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Students looking for strong value in physical sciences will find it at Salisbury University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $25,668. Physical Sciences graduates of Salisbury University earn a median of $51,388 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Students borrow a median of $12,366 to complete the physical sciences program here. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $77,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned it the #5 place for physical sciences. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $44,215. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
More Physical Sciences Rankings
View All Physical Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.