Engineering & Applied Physics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their engineering & applied physics programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools to find the best for engineering & applied physics students.
Choosing a Great Engineering & Applied Physics School
The school you choose for engineering & applied physics can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Engineering & Applied Physics School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Engineering & Applied Physics Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools list, to help you choose. 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 have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2027 ranking of the best engineering & applied physics schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 engineering & applied physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans.
See the full engineering & applied physics program report for University Of California Berkeley
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best engineering & applied physics schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 16 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering & applied physics program make about $66,254 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137.
More information about a degree in engineering & applied physics from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Yale University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering & applied physics, ranking #3. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 engineering & applied physics students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
See the full engineering & applied physics program report for Yale University
Harvard University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best engineering & applied physics schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 38 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Tufts University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering & applied physics, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 11 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering & applied physics program make about $68,154 in their early career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #6 for engineering & applied physics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 90 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $64,304. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,136 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering & applied physics from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Cornell University came in at #7 for engineering & applied physics this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 58 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best engineering & applied physics schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $60,797 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans.
See the full engineering & applied physics program report for University Of California San Diego
University Of Chicago ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best engineering & applied physics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 19 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #10 among the best engineering & applied physics schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 engineering & applied physics students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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California Institute Of Technology came in at #11 for engineering & applied physics this year. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 25 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from California Institute Of Technology earn around $173,344 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in engineering & applied physics from California Institute Of Technology
Siena College placed #12 among the best engineering & applied physics schools. Set in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Siena College awarded about 17 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from Siena College earn around $44,535 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,656 to complete this degree.
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University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #13 for engineering & applied physics this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Colorado Boulder awarded about 20 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering & applied physics program make about $55,861 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,373.
See the full engineering & applied physics program report for University Of Colorado Boulder
Colorado School Of Mines placed #14 among the best engineering & applied physics schools. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 65 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $72,858. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
See the full engineering & applied physics program report for Colorado School Of Mines
Rice University came in at #15 for engineering & applied physics this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 engineering & applied physics students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from Rice University earn around $75,299 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
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Fordham University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best engineering & applied physics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 engineering & applied physics students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering & applied physics program make about $59,403 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,643.
See the full engineering & applied physics program report for Fordham University
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #17 for engineering & applied physics this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 engineering & applied physics students who graduated with this degree at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering & applied physics program make about $53,507 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,077 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best engineering & applied physics schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 22 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Typical student debt for the program is $22,053.
See the full engineering & applied physics program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Biola University earned the #19 position for engineering & applied physics this year. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Biola University awarded about 19 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from Biola University earn around $45,003 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,308 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering & applied physics from Biola University
Murray State University came in at #20 for engineering & applied physics this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 31 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at Murray State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from Murray State University earn around $58,025 in the first couple years of their career. Murray State University graduates carry a median of $19,521 in student loans.
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University Of Oregon ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best engineering & applied physics schools. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. University Of Oregon graduates 72% of students within six years. About 29 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at University Of Oregon in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from University Of Oregon earn around $98,640 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,034.
More information about a degree in engineering & applied physics from University Of Oregon
Snow College placed #22 among the best engineering & applied physics schools. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 engineering & applied physics students who graduated with this degree at Snow College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. Students borrow a median of $10,440 to complete this degree.
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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach placed #23 among the best engineering & applied physics schools. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach graduates 66% of students within six years. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach awarded about 33 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach earn around $56,889 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,667.
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Delaware State University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best engineering & applied physics schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Dover. About 39% of students finish within six years. Delaware State University awarded about 13 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering & applied physics degree from Delaware State University earn around $54,210 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
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Engineering & Applied Physics Related Rankings by Major
Engineering & Applied Physics is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 24 schools evaluated.
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).
