2027 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in North Carolina
[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.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value physical sciences schools.
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2027 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #1 spot for value among physical sciences schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,279 in student loans. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $53,712 early in their careers. Set against $16,279 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in physical sciences will find it at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro, which ranked #2. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $24,977. Physical Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $42,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,977 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fayetteville State University earned it the #3 place for physical sciences. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,353, compared with $8,353 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,869 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $41,449 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fayetteville State University admits about 82% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina A And T State University earned it the #4 place for physical sciences. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Students borrow a median of $29,078 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $50,715. Set against $29,078 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,648 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $25,766. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $35,579. Set against $25,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Western Carolina University came in at #6 for value in physical sciences this year. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,824 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $26,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Davidson College landed the #7 spot for physical sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,430. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $41,505. Set against $19,906 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value physical sciences schools. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,096 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $47,483. That is a strong return on a $23,096 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #9 among the best values for physical sciences. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Students borrow a median of $21,669 to complete the physical sciences program here. Physical Sciences graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $62,343 early in their careers. Set against $21,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #10 for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $26,664. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $45,458. That is a strong return on a $26,664 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Appalachian State University earned the #11 position for value in physical sciences this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $23,587. Physical Sciences graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $50,777 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,587 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #12 position for value in physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Physical Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,801 in student loans. Early-career physical sciences graduates make about $50,220. Set against $21,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
Wake Forest University came in at #13 for value in physical sciences this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. Typical student debt for physical sciences graduates is $22,250. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Wake Forest University admits about 22% of applicants.
Duke University placed #14 among the best values for physical sciences. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $8,457 to complete the physical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $29,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
