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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Physical Sciences in the Plains States Region

166 Ranked Colleges
2,881 Degrees Awarded
$27,600 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 50,306 people earned their degree in physical sciences, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $39,880 and had an average of $22,620 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,881 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,796 and $23,945 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 166 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physical sciences. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their physical sciences program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region physical sciences students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Physical Sciences in the Plains States Region

1
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carleton College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region. Carleton is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 61 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national 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.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Carleton College

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 20 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 more about Physical Sciences at UMN Morris

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at SD Mines

4
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Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Coe College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Coe is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Coe College

5
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Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa

Out of the 166 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grinnell College landed the #5 spot on the list. Grinnell, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Grinnell Physical Sciences Report

6
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Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Macalester College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Macalester College

7
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St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

With a ranking of #7, St Olaf College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. St Olaf College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 47 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St Olaf College Physical Sciences Report

8
Presentation College crest
Presentation College
Aberdeen, South Dakota

Presentation College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Presentation College is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Full Presentation College Physical Sciences Report

9
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Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

With a ranking of #9, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 18 degrees to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Gustavus Adolphus College

10

Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Fayette, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Full Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Physical Sciences Report

11
Central crest
Central College
Pella, Iowa

Central College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Central College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pella, Iowa. It awarded 9 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 more about Physical Sciences at Central

12
Concordia College Moorhead crest
Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, Minnesota

Concordia College at Moorhead ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Concordia College Moorhead Physical Sciences Report

13

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 84 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Minnesota - Duluth

14
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Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

With a ranking of #14, Luther College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Luther is located in Decorah, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Luther Physical Sciences Report

15

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 114 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Missouri - Kansas City

16

Kansas Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Salina, Kansas, and it awarded 6 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Kansas Wesleyan University

17
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Saint Johns University
Collegeville, Minnesota

Saint Johns University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. SJU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegeville, Minnesota. It awarded 12 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 SJU Physical Sciences Report

18
Drury University crest
Drury University
Springfield, Missouri

Drury University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Drury University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Drury University

19
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College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, Minnesota

College of Saint Benedict ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Saint Joseph, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full College of Saint Benedict Physical Sciences Report

20
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

Cornell College ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Cornell College is a small school located in Mount Vernon, Iowa that handed out 8 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Cornell College

21

Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 61 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Missouri University of Science and Technology

22
Bethel University Minnesota crest
Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #22, Bethel University Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 31 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Physical Sciences Report

23
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Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. This small school is located in Wayne, Nebraska, and it awarded 23 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at WSC

24
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Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Spearfish, South Dakota, this small public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

Full BHSU Physical Sciences Report

25

With a ranking of #25, Westminster College Missouri did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Physical Sciences Major in the Plains States Region list. Westminster Fulton is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fulton, Missouri. It awarded 4 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Westminster College Missouri

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