Best Colleges for Physics

Physics graduates earn an average of $43,621 annually, making this field a solid investment for students passionate about understanding the fundamental laws of nature. With 89 schools offering physics programs nationwide, students have numerous options to pursue this challenging discipline.

When evaluating physics programs, look for strong research opportunities, well-equipped laboratories, and faculty who actively publish in peer-reviewed journals. Class sizes matter too,smaller physics courses allow for more personalized instruction and mentorship. Consider schools with connections to national laboratories, observatories, or technology companies that offer internships. The best programs balance rigorous theoretical coursework with hands-on experimental work, preparing graduates for careers in research, engineering, technology, or graduate studies in specialized fields like astrophysics or quantum mechanics.

Schools Ranked

$59,150

Avg. Program Earnings

75.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts	$84,653	96.1%	private-nonprofit
2	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$74,531	95.1%	private-nonprofit
3	Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts	$74,200	90.4%	private-nonprofit
4	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York	$69,338	83.2%	private-nonprofit
5	DePaul University Chicago, Illinois	$69,338	70.0%	private-nonprofit
6	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$67,660	96.8%	private-nonprofit
7	University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona	$64,791	65.9%	public
8	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$61,516	85.2%	public
9	Portland State University Portland, Oregon	$60,161	53.1%	public
10	College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Massachusetts	$59,417	89.6%	private-nonprofit
11	California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, California	$57,318	54.2%	public
12	University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas	$57,318	70.0%	public
13	The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, Texas	$57,318	70.8%	public
14	The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas	$54,713	56.5%	public
15	Whitworth University Spokane, Washington	$54,661	68.4%	private-nonprofit
16	University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, New Hampshire	$53,358	76.4%	public
17	Brigham Young University Provo, Utah	$52,733	82.2%	private-nonprofit
18	University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, Virginia	$52,289	95.3%	public
19	Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, Arkansas	$52,107	46.5%	public
20	Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan	$52,107	82.2%	public
21	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California	$52,107	85.3%	public
22	Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida	$50,231	83.0%	public
23	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$50,022	66.7%	public
24	Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington	$48,432	65.5%	public
25	University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah	$48,432	63.9%	public