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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering & Applied Physics (Income $0-$30k)

14 Ranked Colleges
139 Degrees Awarded
$36,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Engineering & Applied Physics is the 440th most popular major in the country with 941 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 139 engineering and applied physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in engineering and applied physics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality engineering and applied physics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the engineering and applied physics program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” 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.

Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering & Applied Physics (Income $0-$30k)

#1

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s applied physics degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Caltech, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering & Applied Physics at California Institute of Technology

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s applied physics degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering & Applied Physics at Northwestern University

#3

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Harvard University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 10 masters’s applied physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree applied physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Harvard has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at Harvard University

#4

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cornell University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Ithaca, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified masters’s applied physics students in 2019-2020.

Cornell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042.

Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at Cornell

#5

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #5 spot on the list. Rice is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice also made our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at Rice University

#1 in overall quality

Columbia University in the City of New York ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s applied physics degrees to qualified students.

Columbia also made our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at Columbia University in the City of New York

#7 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 9 masters’s applied physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD also made our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at University of California - San Diego

#8

University of Maine

Orono, Maine
#13 in overall quality

University of Maine came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Orono, Maine is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s applied physics degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UMaine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMaine are $28,352, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering & Applied Physics at University of Maine

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Central Oklahoma did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCO is located in Edmond, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s applied physics degrees to qualified students.

UCO not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCO are $17,913.

Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at University of Central Oklahoma

#12 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Norman, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s applied physics degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are $23,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at University of Oklahoma

#11

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Tulsa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree applied physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Tulsa has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Tulsa are $24,080, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at University of Tulsa

#12

New York University

New York, New York
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, New York University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified masters’s applied physics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NYU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NYU are $36,892.

Full NYU Engineering & Applied Physics Report

#13

Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoboken, New Jersey
#8 in overall quality

Stevens Institute of Technology ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stevens is located in Hoboken, New Jersey and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s applied physics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stevens, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stevens are $38,876, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Stevens Institute of Technology Engineering & Applied Physics Report

#10 in overall quality

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Applied Physics Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Daytona Beach, Florida is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s applied physics degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach also took the #10 spot in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach are $19,736, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Engineering & Applied Physics Report

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to NASA.

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