University can be expensive, especially if you want to study something in the sciences, which tend to come with high equipment and software costs and lab fees. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable universities to study science and other areas of academia, so you don’t have to go into student debt just to get the degree you want. Here are some of the most affordable universities to study science.
University of California Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world’s most prestigious and well-known universities. It’s also one of the more affordable colleges for undergraduate education. To be eligible for admission, students must either have qualifying SAT or ACT score. Once admitted, they can choose from any of the four-degree programs offered at UC Berkeley: biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, or earth sciences. All programs are ranked among the top 25 in their respective field by U.S News & World Report.
Oregon State University
With its prime location in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon State is a leading research institution with over 1,500 undergraduate students in science majors and programs. The School of Earth Sciences offers earth sciences education that provides students with a foundation in earth science and a career focus of their choice. Students can earn geology, meteorology, atmospheric sciences, or environmental studies degrees. Other top-ranked science programs include materials engineering and nuclear engineering, offering a curriculum combining mathematics, physics, and chemistry courses with hands-on laboratory experiences.
Texas A&M University
If you’re looking for a more affordable option for studying science, Texas A&M University may be a good fit. In addition to offering over 120 majors, minors, and degrees across all major disciplines, Texas A&M offers scholarships and grants that could cover the cost of attendance and an affordable essay writing service. Additionally, your first-year tuition is at half the tuition price in your second year or higher.
Kansas State University
K-State students enjoy an affordable quality education and a wide range of degrees and specializations in science. Many scientific disciplines are offered at the undergraduate level, such as agriculture, biochemistry, environmental biology, forestry, and fisheries. Graduate programs include bioinformatics, biochemistry, cancer biology, cell and molecular biology, and biomedical sciences. The school has over 2 million dollars worth of research funding per year and is one of the best schools for innovation with its invention assistance program that has had over 100 patents since 2010.
Penn State
Penn State is ranked in the top 20 public universities in the US and is home to one of the strongest science departments in the country. This school has a large enrollment which can help create opportunities for collaboration with fellow scientists, but you may be limited when it comes to being supervised by professors with more specific research areas.
Good thing that Penn State’s faculty includes Nobel Prize-winning researchers, MacArthur Genius Grant recipients, and industry leaders at nearby companies like DuPont and Lockheed Martin.
Virginia Tech
The most affordable university for students is Virginia Tech, which offers various programs, including engineering, communications, computer science, and environmental sciences. The school has three undergraduate engineering programs ranked in the top 10 nationally according to U.S. News & World Report: aerospace engineering, biological systems engineering, and civil engineering. The university was founded in 1872 as one of the first universities at public land-grant institutions created under the Morrill Act.
Conclusion
Choosing a college or university can be a daunting process. But making the right choice is worth it, so give yourself time and research your options before settling on anything. One of the great benefits of getting an education in science is that many affordable universities can choose from.