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Biological and Physical Sciences Colleges Under $20,000

Programs with net price under $20,000. See our methodology.

CUNY Hunter College delivers Biological and Physical Sciences education for just $2,446 annually, making it the most affordable option among national programs under $20,000. This striking cost advantage comes with solid outcomes, as Hunter maintains a 61% graduation rate while serving students in New York's biotech corridor. The price gap between public and private options reaches extreme levels, with Christian Brothers University charging $10,896 despite being a private institution. Empire State University graduates earn $45,852 annually, the highest among affordable programs, reflecting strong demand for science professionals across pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and environmental consulting firms that cluster around major metropolitan areas. Florida dominates the affordable market with four universities offering net costs below $9,000, while graduation rates vary dramatically from Oklahoma Panhandle's 26% to Florida International's 74%. Students can access quality science education at costs ranging from under $2,500 to approximately $12,900, with most programs clustering in the $8,000 to $11,500 range.
50
Programs
$2,446 – $16,025
Net Price Range
$31,886
Avg. Program Earnings
51.9%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Biological and Physical Sciences Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $2,446 $7,382 61.0% 47.9%
2 $4,536 $6,916 61.8% 75.4%
3 $6,276 $8,179 44.7% 85.8%
4 $7,557 $7,922 26.1%
5 $8,001 $4,879 64.3% 81.3%
6 $8,155 $6,360 61.8% 48.0%
7 $9,133 $6,565 73.9% 63.9%
8 $9,837 $10,904 16.2%
9 $10,043 $6,410 74.6% 43.9%
10 $10,896 $37,300 56.0% 87.5%
11 $11,147 $7,630 29.3%
12 $11,180 $11,656 49.8% 75.6%
13 $11,234 $8,991 51.2% 86.9%
14 $11,401 $8,280 37.7%
15 $11,408 $10,449 53.9% 82.9%
16 $12,093 $36,840 59.0% 84.1%
17 $12,529 $10,240 34.6% 97.2%
18 $12,599 $9,506 54.0% 72.5%
19 $12,621 $10,136 52.0% 94.4%
20 $12,932 $11,238 53.1% 93.1%
21 $13,405 $8,487 44.1% 95.6%
22 $13,459 $6,442 27.4%
23 $13,493 $5,633 47.8% 88.0%
24 $13,726 $8,834 56.0% 89.1%
25 $13,778 $8,605 46.9% 98.6%
26 $13,780 $7,566 28.9% 65.3%
27 $13,816 $11,180 87.2% 42.6%
28 $13,832 $10,990 38.0% 68.9%
29 $13,884 $6,438 54.4% 34.2%
30 $13,945 $9,992 83.1% 52.7%
31 $14,013 $8,868 43.3%
32 $14,401 $12,997 61.6% 83.1%
33 $14,487 $6,496 82.2% 66.7%
34 $14,609 $9,728 68.9% 95.0%
35 $14,623 $7,708 33.8% 88.4%
36 $14,714 $8,606 60.9% 84.5%
37 $14,754 $8,315 61.5% 85.4%
38 $14,824 $10,181 57.5% 85.6%
39 $14,838 $8,064 63.6% 95.0%
40 $14,879 $29,264 43.6% 60.7%
41 $15,044 $6,706 28.2%
42 $15,089 $11,036 43.8% 93.6%
43 $15,113 $37,844 62.4% 89.5%
44 $15,216 $11,188 45.9% 95.2%
45 $15,266 $35,822 61.7% 84.1%
46 $15,360 $13,014 32.3%
47 $15,389 $9,622 43.0%
48 $15,501 $9,815 62.9% 75.2%
49 $15,644 $8,771 53.5% 84.6%
50 $16,025 $9,228 55.1% 84.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Hunter College cost only $2,446 per year?

Hunter College benefits from New York's substantial state funding and operates within the City University system that prioritizes access. The $2,446 net price reflects generous financial aid packages that cover most costs for qualifying students. This represents significant savings compared to the $11,147 average among affordable programs nationwide.

How do graduation rates compare between the lowest-cost programs?

Graduation rates span from 16% at Cheyney University to 74% at University of South Florida, showing that affordability doesn't determine success. Florida International University achieves a 74% graduation rate at $9,133 annual cost. The data reveals that institutional support matters more than price tags for student completion.

Is there a significant earnings difference between these affordable programs?

Empire State University graduates earn $45,852, nearly double the $28,598 earned by University of South Florida alumni. CUNY Hunter graduates earn $33,138 despite paying the lowest tuition costs. These earnings variations often reflect regional job markets and industry concentrations rather than program costs.

Does attending a private university guarantee better outcomes in this price range?

Christian Brothers University, the only private option at $10,896, shows a 56% graduation rate that falls below several public universities. Florida International University achieves higher graduation rates at lower costs. Private status doesn't correlate with superior outcomes among affordable Biological and Physical Sciences programs.

Where do most students find the best value for Biological and Physical Sciences?

Florida universities dominate value rankings with four schools offering sub-$9,000 costs and graduation rates above 60%. University of South Florida combines a $10,043 price with 75% graduation rate and strong regional biotech connections. New York and Florida provide the strongest combinations of affordability and academic outcomes.

More Biological and Physical Sciences Rankings

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.