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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Physics in Tennessee

20 Ranked Colleges
156 Degrees Awarded
$27,700 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 13,674 people earned their degree in physics, making the major the 68th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, physics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $42,960 and had an average of $22,756 in loans still to pay off.

Across Tennessee, there were 156 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,486 and $26,770 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee” ranking analyzed 20 colleges that offered a degree in physics. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in physics.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee

The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee physics students.

Top 20 Most Focused Colleges for Physics in Tennessee

1
Fisk crest
Fisk University
Nashville, Tennessee

Out of the 20 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Fisk University landed the #1 spot on the list. Fisk is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at Fisk

2
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Rhodes College
Memphis, Tennessee

Out of the 20 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Rhodes College landed the #2 spot on the list. Rhodes College is a small school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 9 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Rhodes College

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee. This large school is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it awarded 58 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UT Knoxville Physics Report

4
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middle Tennessee State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 20 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Physics Report

5
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 19 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Physics at Vanderbilt University

6
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University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

With a ranking of #6, University of Memphis did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee list. UofM is a large school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 15 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at University of Memphis

7
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Union University
Jackson, Tennessee

Union University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking. Located in Jackson, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Union University Physics Report

8

The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #8. The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is a fairly large school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee that handed out 7 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Full The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Physics Report

9

Sewanee - The University of the South ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee list. Sewanee - The University of the South is located in Sewanee, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Sewanee - The University of the South

10
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Belmont University
Nashville, Tennessee

Belmont University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking. Belmont University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 4 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Belmont University

11
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Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, Tennessee

Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking. TNU is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Physics at Trevecca Nazarene University

12
Austin Peay State University crest
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, Tennessee

Austin Peay State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking. Located in Clarksville, Tennessee, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at Austin Peay State University

13
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Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, Tennessee

Southern Adventist University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking. Southern Adventist is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegedale, Tennessee. It awarded 1 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Southern Adventist University

14
King crest
King University
Bristol, Tennessee

King University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking. King University is located in Bristol, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full King University Physics Report

15

Tennessee Technological University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee list. Located in Cookeville, Tennessee, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Tennessee Technological University Physics Report

16
ETSU crest
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee

With a ranking of #16, East Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee list. Johnson City, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Physics at ETSU

17
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Lipscomb University
Nashville, Tennessee

With a ranking of #17, Lipscomb University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Lipscomb Physics Report

18
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Lane College
Jackson, Tennessee

Lane College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking. Jackson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at Lane College

18
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Carson - Newman University
Jefferson City, Tennessee

Carson - Newman University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #18. Carson - Newman is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jefferson City, Tennessee. It awarded 0 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Carson - Newman

18
Christian Brothers crest
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, Tennessee

Christian Brothers University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physics Major in Tennessee ranking. This small school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 0 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at Christian Brothers

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