Physical Sciences Colleges Under $20,000

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice stands out with a remarkable net price of just $3,046 for Physical Sciences students, proving that quality education doesn't require massive debt. This New York institution graduates 55.5% of its students while maintaining an acceptance rate of 50.66%, creating a balanced environment between accessibility and academic standards. The contrast between public and private options becomes stark when comparing John Jay's costs to Central Christian College of Kansas at $12,473 annually. Physical Sciences graduates enter a national job market where federal research facilities, pharmaceutical companies, and technology firms actively recruit talent, particularly from affordable programs that produce work-ready scientists. Schools like New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology demonstrate how specialized public institutions can offer targeted Physical Sciences training at just $8,265 net cost while maintaining strong graduation rates of 56.4%. The data reveals significant regional variations, with Western states like California and Wyoming providing multiple affordable pathways into scientific careers through their public university systems.

Programs

$3,046 – $18,282

Net Price Range

$52,107

Avg. Program Earnings

53.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Physical Sciences Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, New York	$3,046	$7,470	55.5%	50.7%
2	Texas A & M International University Laredo, Texas	$3,061	$7,846	48.9%	47.9%
3	Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College New Town, North Dakota	$3,669	$3,870	17.1%
4	California State University-Stanislaus Turlock, California	$5,671	$7,826	58.0%	96.6%
5	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
6	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
7	University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras San Juan, Puerto Rico	$6,507	$5,324	52.5%	51.6%
8	Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico	$7,912	$7,868	34.9%
9	New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, New Mexico	$8,265	$9,058	56.4%	74.4%
10	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%
11	Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky	$10,916	$11,436	53.7%	97.0%
12	University of Southern Maine Portland, Maine	$11,729	$10,920	46.3%	85.4%
13	University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming	$11,779	$6,938	59.8%	96.0%
14	Arkansas Tech University Russellville, Arkansas	$12,171	$8,508	48.7%	94.4%
15	Central Christian College of Kansas McPherson, Kansas	$12,473	$21,000	23.0%
16	Wright State University-Lake Campus Celina, Ohio	$12,603	$7,504	42.5%	99.9%
17	University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Mayaguez, Puerto Rico	$12,684	$5,274	47.0%	54.4%
18	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
19	Lincoln University Lincoln University, Pennsylvania	$12,912	$12,512	52.1%	80.6%
20	California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, California	$13,167	$7,913	46.6%	98.2%
21	University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah	$13,172	$9,315	63.9%	89.1%
22	Mississippi University for Women Columbus, Mississippi	$13,198	$8,092	37.8%	99.1%
23	Chadron State College Chadron, Nebraska	$13,308	$8,078	38.1%
24	Fort Hays State University Hays, Kansas	$13,493	$5,633	47.8%	88.0%
25	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, Arizona	$13,670	$12,051	67.8%	89.8%
26	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
27	Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, Louisiana	$13,809	$8,864	44.6%	97.9%
28	Brigham Young University-Hawaii Laie, Hawaii	$13,884	$6,438	54.4%	34.2%
29	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
30	Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, Alabama	$14,596	$9,436	35.7%	92.2%
31	Worcester State University Worcester, Massachusetts	$14,738	$11,286	55.5%	87.7%
32	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
33	College of Saint Mary Omaha, Nebraska	$14,986	$23,340	59.4%	64.6%
34	Wright State University-Main Campus Dayton, Ohio	$15,216	$11,188	45.9%	95.2%
35	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
36	Bethany College Bethany, West Virginia	$15,306	$34,816	46.3%	64.9%
37	Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, Colorado	$15,331	$9,712	41.5%	81.8%
38	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, Wisconsin	$15,374	$9,651	71.2%	74.3%
39	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$15,590	$11,505	88.6%	44.6%
40	Emporia State University Emporia, Kansas	$15,702	$7,356	54.3%	95.7%
41	Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, Iowa	$15,975	$33,220	38.3%	74.5%
42	San Diego State University San Diego, California	$16,174	$8,290	78.3%	39.3%
43	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California	$16,607	$14,560	74.5%	46.9%
44	University of Pittsburgh-Bradford Bradford, Pennsylvania	$16,630	$14,620	43.4%	93.6%
45	Concordia University-Chicago River Forest, Illinois	$16,774	$36,258	47.4%	93.0%
46	Black Hills State University Spearfish, South Dakota	$17,001	$9,000	38.6%	96.6%
47	Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Indiana, Pennsylvania	$17,216	$11,380	52.4%	91.9%
48	Southern Nazarene University Bethany, Oklahoma	$17,838	$29,600	48.8%
49	Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas	$17,883	$10,942	70.5%	95.1%
50	University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, Massachusetts	$18,282	$15,496	51.1%	80.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY John Jay's Physical Sciences program so affordable at $3,046 net cost?

John Jay benefits from New York's substantial state funding for CUNY schools, allowing them to keep costs low while serving urban students. The $3,046 net price includes financial aid calculations that recognize many students' need for affordable education. Despite the low cost, the program maintains academic quality with a 55.5% graduation rate. Students also benefit from New York City's proximity to research institutions and pharmaceutical companies for internships.

How do graduation rates vary among the most affordable Physical Sciences programs?

Graduation rates range dramatically from 17.1% at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College to 59.8% at University of Wyoming. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology achieves a solid 56.4% graduation rate while keeping costs at $8,265 annually. Schools like Cal State Stanislaus demonstrate that affordability doesn't necessarily compromise outcomes, maintaining a 58% graduation rate at just $5,671 net cost. The data shows that specialized programs often perform better than general universities in this price range.

Is attending a private college worth the extra cost for Physical Sciences?

Central Christian College of Kansas charges $12,473 net price but graduates only 23% of its Physical Sciences students, making it a poor value proposition. Public options like Cal State Fresno cost $6,480 and graduate 54.8% of students, providing much better outcomes per dollar spent. The data shows no private colleges in this affordable range that justify their higher costs through superior graduation rates. Students should focus on public institutions that offer stronger returns on investment.

Where can students find the best Physical Sciences programs under $10,000?

Nine schools offer programs under $10,000, with Texas A&M International University providing excellent value at $3,061 net cost and a 48.9% graduation rate. California State Universities dominate this space, with both Stanislaus and Fresno offering strong programs under $7,000 annually. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology provides specialized training at $8,265, making it ideal for students interested in earth sciences or engineering applications. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley rounds out the sub-$10,000 options at $6,500.

How do acceptance rates affect student opportunities in affordable Physical Sciences programs?

Most affordable programs maintain high acceptance rates, with Cal State Stanislaus accepting 96.61% of applicants and Western Kentucky accepting 96.95%. This accessibility means students have multiple options even with average academic records. However, schools like CUNY John Jay (50.66% acceptance) and University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (51.59% acceptance) require more competitive applications. The selective programs often provide better student support and smaller class sizes, justifying their more rigorous admission standards.

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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.