2026 Best Value Behavioral Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Behavioral Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 145 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Behavioral Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year in the United States. This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill Behavioral Science students take on a median of $15,117 in debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill alumni report median earnings of $72,200 a decade after entry. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill has an acceptance rate of 15%. More on University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #2 on this year's best-value Behavioral Science ranking in the United States. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. University Of Washington Seattle Campus Behavioral Science students take on a median of $16,481 in debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus alumni report median earnings of $78,466 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kansas earned it the #3 place in the United States. University Of Kansas is a public school based in Lawrence, KS. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical Behavioral Science student debt is $25,000. Median earnings reach $61,945 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%. Get the full University Of Kansas report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #4 place in the United States. This public school is set in Denver, CO. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical Behavioral Science student debt is $26,582. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,270. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Colorado Denver
A rank of #5 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the best values in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. The median Behavioral Science program debt is $23,529. Graduates go on to earn a median of $114,862 ten years after entry. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Iowa landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete their Behavioral Science program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,762. That is a strong return on a $24,463 median debt. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants. Read more about University Of Iowa
Columbia University In The City Of New York offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Typical Behavioral Science student debt is $23,258. Columbia University In The City Of New York alumni report median earnings of $102,491 a decade after entry. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
Washington University In St Louis offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Located in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. The median Behavioral Science program debt is $17,553. Median earnings reach $86,182 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants. See the full Washington University In St Louis profile
University Of Maine ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Based in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. University Of Maine Behavioral Science students take on a median of $25,984 in debt. University Of Maine alumni report median earnings of $48,653 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,984 median debt. University Of Maine has an acceptance rate of 97%. Get the full University Of Maine report
Mohave Community College placed #10 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Mohave Community College
Eastern Michigan University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full Eastern Michigan University report
Glenville State College placed #12 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. More on Glenville State College
Santa Fe Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. See the full Santa Fe Community College profile
Loyola University Chicago came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Loyola University Chicago
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Walsh University
Walsh University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Walsh University profile
Lynn University
Lynn University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on Lynn University
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read more about Our Lady Of Holy Cross College
Concordia University Irvine ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Read the full report on Concordia University Irvine
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Duke University
Duke University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Duke University report
University Of Phoenix Arizona landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Phoenix Arizona profile
College Of Southern Nevada ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. See the full College Of Southern Nevada profile
Temple College
Temple College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full Temple College profile
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #25 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Illinois Institute Of Technology
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Behavioral Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
St Louis College Of Pharmacy came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. See the full St Louis College Of Pharmacy profile
Whitman College
Whitman College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Whitman College
New Jersey Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Teachers College At Columbia University came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Teachers College At Columbia University report
Western Illinois University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. See the full Western Illinois University profile
Point Park University came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. See the full Point Park University profile
University Of California Merced placed #32 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of California Merced
Ashford University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Read the full report on Ashford University
Carroll University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Carroll University report
Chaminade University Of Honolulu came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Chaminade University Of Honolulu
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Michigan Dearborn
The University Of Montana Western placed #37 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. See the full The University Of Montana Western profile
Missouri Baptist University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Behavioral Science schools. Read more about Missouri Baptist University
Imperial Valley College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Imperial Valley College profile
Houston Baptist University came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Houston Baptist University
New Mexico Highlands University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read more about New Mexico Highlands University
The University Of Texas Medical Branch placed #42 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Read more about The University Of Texas Medical Branch
Tabor College
Tabor College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full Tabor College profile
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #44 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Get the full Trevecca Nazarene University report
College Of Mount St Joseph landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full College Of Mount St Joseph profile
Franklin And Marshall College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. See the full Franklin And Marshall College profile
The University Of Texas At Austin offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
Clemson University placed #48 among the best-value Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Get the full Clemson University report
Texas Tech University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. More on Texas Tech University
Mount Aloysius College came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Mount Aloysius College
Related Behavioral Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Behavioral Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Behavioral Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Behavioral Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 145 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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