by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Applied Physics Schools” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 994 people earned their degree in engineering and applied physics, making the major the 448th most popular in the United States.
For this year’s “Best Value Applied Physics Schools” ranking, we looked at 49 colleges that offer a degree in engineering and applied physics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent engineering and applied physics programs, but they also cost less that 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
The applied physics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Applied Physics Schools”.
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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The colleges and universities below are the best for applied physics students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. This medium-sized school is located in Platteville, Wisconsin, and it awarded 22 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Platteville also took the #18 spot in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Platteville is $14,565 for applied physics students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Murray State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Applied Physics Schools. Located in Murray, Kentucky, this medium-sized public school handed out 29 degrees to qualified ’s applied physics students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Murray State University is $11,736 for applied physics students.
Read more about Engineering & Applied Physics at Murray State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s applied physics degrees to qualified students.
University of Oklahoma did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $21,122 for Applied Physics students.
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 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering & Applied Physics at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Oklahoma. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. Located in Edmond, Oklahoma, this fairly large public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s applied physics students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $17,339 for Applied Physics students per year to attend UCO.
Full University of Central Oklahoma Engineering & Applied Physics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Applied Physics Schools. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s applied physics degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $18,505 for applied physics students per year to attend UMN Duluth.
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%.
Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Engineering & Applied Physics Report
University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools ranking. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s applied physics students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our applied physics students list, University of Virginia has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia - Main Campus is $22,006 for applied physics students.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 University of Virginia Engineering & Applied Physics Report
Oakland University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. Oakland is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s applied physics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $13,449 for applied physics students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at Oakland
University of California - San Diego came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Applied Physics Schools ranking. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 17 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSD also made our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - San Diego is $15,240 for applied physics students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools ranking. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach is a medium-sized school located in Daytona Beach, Florida that handed out 21 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach also made our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $35,442 for applied physics students per year to attend Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach.
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 Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach Engineering & Applied Physics Report
With a ranking of #10, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. KU is a large school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 5 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $20,257 for Applied Physics students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at University of Kansas
With a ranking of #11, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 3 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Arizona State University - Tempe is $13,107 for applied physics students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Engineering & Applied Physics at Arizona State University - Tempe
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s applied physics degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $16,845 for applied physics students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Arkansas Tech University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Applied Physics Schools ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Russellville, Arkansas, and it awarded 1 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Arkansas Tech University is $11,721 for Applied Physics students.
New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools ranking. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s applied physics degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,428 for applied physics students per year to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus.
Read more about Engineering & Applied Physics at New Mexico State University - Main Campus
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 74 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $14,321 for applied physics students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, 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 94%.
With a ranking of #16, University of Nevada - Reno did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. Reno, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s applied physics degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Nevada - Reno is $14,930 for Applied Physics students.
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 University of Nevada - Reno Engineering & Applied Physics Report
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools ranking, coming in at #17. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for Applied Physics students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 Engineering & Applied Physics at University of Illinois at Chicago
With a ranking of #18, University of Maine did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. University of Maine is located in Orono, Maine and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s applied physics degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $16,033 for applied physics students per year to attend University of Maine.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 Engineering & Applied Physics at University of Maine
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for applied physics students.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 more about Engineering & Applied Physics at UW - Madison
Colorado School of Mines came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Applied Physics Schools ranking. Located in Golden, Colorado, this medium-sized public school awarded 59 diplomas to qualified ’s applied physics students in 2020-2021.
Mines not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Colorado School of Mines is $27,114 for Applied Physics students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Full Colorado School of Mines Engineering & Applied Physics Report
With a ranking of #21, LeTourneau University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. LeTourneau University is a small school located in Longview, Texas that handed out 2 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for LETU is $23,665 for applied physics students.
With a ranking of #22, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s applied physics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $13,358 for applied physics students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about Engineering & Applied Physics at University of Arizona
Kettering University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools ranking. Kettering is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Flint, Michigan. It awarded 8 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $33,472 for Applied Physics students per year to attend Kettering University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Engineering & Applied Physics at Kettering University
University of Colorado Boulder came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Applied Physics Schools ranking. This large school is located in Boulder, Colorado, and it awarded 27 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Colorado Boulder is $20,967 for Applied Physics students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
With a ranking of #25, Stevens Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Applied Physics Schools list. This medium-sized school is located in Hoboken, New Jersey, and it awarded 11 ’s applied physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Stevens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stevens Institute of Technology is $37,211 for applied physics students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Full Stevens Institute of Technology Engineering & Applied Physics Report
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
