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2024 Best Physics Schools in Massachusetts

9 Colleges in Massachusetts
679 Physics Degrees Awarded
$55,521 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on majoring in physics, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #68 in the country in terms of popularity. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools in Massachusetts to determine which ones were the best for physics students pursuing a degree. Combined, these schools handed out 679 degrees in physics to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Physics School

Best Physics Schools in Massachusetts The physics program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Physics rankings. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for physics schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Pick Your Physics Degree Level

Bachelor's Degrees in Physics
Master's Degrees in Physics
Doctor's Degrees in Physics

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Physics Schools in Massachusetts ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for Physics in Massachusetts

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the physics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Massachusetts Schools in Physics

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
75 Physics Degrees Awarded
$55,521 Median Starting Salary

University of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in physics. UMass Amherst is a very large public university located in the large suburb of Amherst. A Best Colleges rank of #81 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UMass Amherst is a great university overall.

There were roughly 75 physics students who graduated with this degree at UMass Amherst in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, physics degree recipients usually make about $55,521 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Massachusetts Amherst

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
6th Most Popular In MA
34 Physics Degrees Awarded

Northeastern University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in physics. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #59 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Northeastern is a great university overall.

There were roughly 34 physics students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from Northeastern University

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
5th Most Popular In MA
36 Physics Degrees Awarded

University of Massachusetts - Lowell is a great option for students interested in a degree in physics. UMass Lowell is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Lowell. This university ranks 21st out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 36 physics students who graduated with this degree at UMass Lowell in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Massachusetts - Lowell

4
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, MA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In MA
38 Physics Degrees Awarded

Boston University is a good choice for students interested in a degree in physics. Located in the city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #54 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Boston U is a great university overall.

There were about 38 physics students who graduated with this degree at Boston U in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from Boston University

5
Williams crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
13th Most Popular In MA
42.1% Growth in Graduates

Williams is a small private not-for-profit college located in the fringe town of Williamstown. A Best Colleges rank of #68 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Williams is a great college overall.

There were approximately 19 physics students who graduated with this degree at Williams in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in physics from Williams College

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
8th Most Popular In MA

Brandeis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Waltham. This university ranks 14th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 23 physics students who graduated with this degree at Brandeis in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from Brandeis University

7
Smith crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
20th Most Popular In MA

Located in the large suburb of Northampton, Smith is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 19th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 7 physics students who graduated with this degree at Smith in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in physics from Smith College

8
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
15th Most Popular In MA
$26,625 Median Student Debt

Located in the medium-sized city of Worcester, Holy Cross is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 15th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 12 physics students who graduated with this degree at Holy Cross in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from College of the Holy Cross

9
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
15th Most Popular In MA
33.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State is a public university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 26th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 12 physics students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater State in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from Bridgewater State University

Best Physics Colleges in the New England Region

Explore all the Best Physics Schools in the New England Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Connecticut 241 191
New Hampshire 210 52
Maine 202 71
Rhode Island 200 73
Vermont 194 34

View All Rankings >

One of 8 majors within the Physical Sciences area of study, Physics has other similar majors worth exploring.

Physics Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Physics 674
Other Physics 5

View All Physics Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 744
Geological & Earth Sciences 153
Astronomy & Astrophysics 108
Materials Sciences 22
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 7
General Physical Sciences 4
Other Physical Science 4

View All Physics Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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