Best Value Engineering Physics Colleges

Engineering Physics programs reveal stark value differences across institutions, with net costs spanning from Texas Southmost College's $5,458 to Xavier University's $32,342. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates command the highest starting salaries at $74,845, nearly 75% more than University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's $42,682. The field benefits from strong demand in aerospace and defense sectors concentrated in states like Texas, Colorado, and Illinois, where national laboratories and tech companies actively recruit physics-trained engineers. Public institutions dominate the affordable end, with eight schools charging under $18,000 net cost while still providing pathways to well-paying careers. Colorado School of Mines stands out with 79.4% graduation rates despite higher costs, reflecting the program's rigor and industry connections. Regional job markets significantly impact earnings potential, as graduates near research hubs and tech centers typically see higher starting salaries than those in smaller metropolitan areas.

Programs

$4,783 – $45,538

Net Price Range

$57,142

Avg. Program Earnings

66.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Engineering Physics Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Texas Southmost College Brownsville, Texas	$5,458	$45,529	$3,148	26.8%
2	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$42,682	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
3	Murray State University Murray, Kentucky	$9,121	$47,260	$9,708	59.5%	84.0%
4	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois	$15,201	$74,845	$16,004	84.9%	44.8%
5	University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin	$14,754	$61,218	$8,315	61.5%	85.4%
6	University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado	$21,480	$69,338	$16,430	75.0%	80.7%
7	Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado	$29,240	$59,124	$21,186	79.4%	58.0%
8	Providence College Providence, Rhode Island	$45,538		$60,848	87.9%	52.8%
9	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, New Mexico	$6,747		$8,147	52.2%	78.1%
10	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148		$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
11	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$32,337		$66,014	95.1%	7.5%
12	CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, New York	$4,783		$7,332	19.4%	81.8%
13	Fordham University Bronx, New York	$42,581		$61,992	80.3%	54.1%
14	Houghton University Houghton, New York	$21,148		$17,290	64.7%	77.0%
15	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901		$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
16	New York University New York, New York	$35,035		$60,438	88.5%	12.5%
17	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York	$33,139		$61,884	83.2%	64.5%
18	Siena College Loudonville, New York	$32,697		$44,405	75.8%	80.4%
19	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470		$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
20	Elon University Elon, North Carolina	$41,048		$44,536	83.0%	74.5%
21	Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina	$27,786		$43,285	65.9%	71.3%
22	Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio	$38,909		$64,671	87.0%	27.4%
23	John Carroll University University Heights, Ohio	$28,617		$49,100	76.5%	82.4%
24	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, Ohio	$27,662		$17,809	81.8%	87.9%
25	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$18,292		$12,859	87.7%	52.7%
26	Otterbein University Westerville, Ohio	$22,140		$34,899	68.9%	83.7%
27	Wright State University-Main Campus Dayton, Ohio	$15,216		$11,188	45.9%	95.2%
28	Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio	$32,342		$48,125	70.5%	84.5%
29	University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, Oklahoma	$18,990		$8,522	37.5%	69.9%
30	Northeastern State University Tahlequah, Oklahoma	$11,800		$7,513	37.2%	99.5%
31	Oklahoma Christian University Edmond, Oklahoma	$21,423		$25,900	55.2%	96.0%
32	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, Oklahoma	$17,413		$9,595	75.3%	72.9%
33	Oral Roberts University Tulsa, Oklahoma	$23,600		$34,100	53.9%	78.4%
34	Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford, Oklahoma	$14,542		$8,295	34.7%	76.8%
35	University of Tulsa Tulsa, Oklahoma	$23,678		$48,602	73.3%	69.2%
36	Linfield University McMinnville, Oregon	$27,341		$49,530	65.2%	88.7%
37	Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$31,671		$63,829	92.5%	11.3%
38	Juniata College Huntingdon, Pennsylvania	$27,663		$56,402	68.9%	76.2%
39	Carroll University Waukesha, Wisconsin	$24,362		$37,230	69.6%	72.1%
40	Trinity University San Antonio, Texas	$23,650		$51,352	81.9%	30.5%
41	Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, Virginia	$24,668		$52,388	65.3%	39.8%
42	Randolph-Macon College Ashland, Virginia	$27,759		$48,002	74.6%	85.5%
43	Randolph College Lynchburg, Virginia	$18,436		$29,010	51.5%	95.0%
44	Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia	$23,911		$64,525	94.9%	17.0%
45	Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington	$14,715		$9,192	49.9%	93.5%
46	West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon, West Virginia	$18,148		$33,494	49.5%	96.4%
47	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, Connecticut	$13,339		$17,452	65.4%	97.3%
48	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, Connecticut	$14,059		$17,472	56.9%	92.2%
49	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, Connecticut	$11,504		$17,462	56.7%	97.4%
50	Florida Polytechnic University Lakeland, Florida	$9,899		$4,940	53.0%	56.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What accounts for the 75% salary difference between top and bottom earners?

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn $74,845 compared to $42,682 at UT Rio Grande Valley, reflecting both program quality and regional job markets. Schools near major research facilities and tech hubs typically produce higher-earning graduates. The 44.82% acceptance rate at Illinois suggests more selective admissions, while UT Rio Grande Valley accepts 87.7% of applicants. Geographic location plays a important role, as engineering physics graduates in Chicago and Silicon Valley command premium salaries.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Engineering Physics?

Higher-cost programs generally show better completion rates, with Carnegie Mellon leading at 92.5% despite $31,671 net costs. However, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign achieves 84.9% graduation rates at just $15,201 net cost, proving value exists at public institutions. Texas schools show concerning patterns, with UT Rio Grande Valley graduating only 49.3% of students and Texas Southmost at 26.8%. The data suggests institutional support matters more than raw spending in student success.

Is debt load manageable for Engineering Physics graduates?

Most programs report debt levels between $19,521 and $27,000, well below the national average for STEM fields. University of Illinois graduates carry $20,136 in debt against $74,845 starting salaries, creating a debt-to-income ratio under 27%. University of Wisconsin-Platteville shows higher debt at $27,000 but still maintains reasonable ratios given $61,218 earnings. Missing debt data from several schools suggests either low borrowing rates or strong financial aid programs.

Does selectivity indicate program quality in Engineering Physics?

Carnegie Mellon's 11.3% acceptance rate corresponds with 92.5% graduation rates, while highly selective University of Illinois (44.82%) produces the highest-earning graduates at $74,845. However, less selective programs like Murray State (83.98% acceptance) still achieve solid outcomes with 59.5% graduation rates and $47,260 earnings. The correlation isn't perfect, as some open-admission schools struggle with completion rates below 35%. Regional job demand often matters more than selectivity for career outcomes.

Where do Engineering Physics graduates find the best return on investment?

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers strong value with $15,201 net costs producing $74,845 starting salaries, a 4.9-to-1 return ratio. University of Colorado Boulder provides strong returns at $21,480 costs for $69,338 earnings. Texas schools offer low costs but concerning graduation rates, with Texas Southmost at 26.8% completion despite $5,458 net price. Students should weigh total program costs against regional salary potential and institutional support for degree completion.

More Engineering Physics Rankings

Cheapest Engineering Physics Engineering Physics Under $20,000

All Engineering Physics Programs All College Rankings Highest-Paying Majors 2026

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