2026 Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in the Southwest Region
Engineering & Applied Physics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools to find the best for engineering & applied physics students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Engineering & Applied Physics in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall engineering & applied physics education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Engineering & Applied Physics
Leading the list is Rice University, our #1 school for engineering & applied physics. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 19 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
See the full engineering & applied physics program report for Rice University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 18 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
