2026 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in Mississippi

[Physical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for physical sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in Mississippi
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
For return on investment in physical sciences, no school beat Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College this year. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $11,653. Physical Sciences graduates of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earn a median of $34,214 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,653 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned it the #2 place for physical sciences. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $26,219. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $35,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Mississippi is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,998, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $52,338 early in their careers. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mississippi State University earned it the #4 place for physical sciences. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $26,286. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $53,101. Set against $26,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
More Physical Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.