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2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k

20 Ranked Colleges
3,094 Degrees Awarded
$9,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

General Physics is the 60th most popular major in the country with 12,875 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across California, there were 3,094 general physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general physics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general physics programs and 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 general physics program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The general 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 General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 20 Best Value Colleges for General Physics (Income $30-$48k) in California

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 51 ’s general physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Physics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stanford is $1,581 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about General Physics at Stanford University

2

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #2 spot on the list. Caltech is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 52 ’s general physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Caltech also made our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for California Institute of Technology is $12,190 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Caltech General Physics Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 197 ’s general physics degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Berkeley also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Physics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,999 for California General Physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UC Berkeley.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.

Read full report on General Physics at UC Berkeley

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 123 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCLA is $9,891 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles General Physics Report

5

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 54 diplomas to qualified ’s general physics students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Physics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCSD is $11,176 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about General Physics at UCSD

6

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 15 ’s general physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $2,701 for California General Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 more about General Physics at California State University - Los Angeles

7

University of California - Irvine landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general physics degrees to 89 students in 2020-2021.

UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Irvine is $8,449 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Physics at University of California - Irvine

8

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 199 degrees to qualified ’s general physics students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCSB has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Physics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $11,606 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.

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 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara General Physics Report

9

California State University - Long Beach landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general physics degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.

CSULB also made our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $7,573 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full California State University - Long Beach General Physics Report

10

University of California - Davis landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 74 ’s general physics degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Davis also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Physics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $11,598 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 more about General Physics at University of California - Davis

11

California State University - Fullerton ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 35 ’s general physics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Physics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $5,821 for California General Physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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 General Physics at California State University - Fullerton

12

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school awarded 83 diplomas to qualified ’s general physics students in 2020-2021.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,193 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Riverside.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on General Physics at University of California - Riverside

13

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Physics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,049 for California General Physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Santa Cruz.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, 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 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Physics at University of California - Santa Cruz

14
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

SDSU also made our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $9,274 for California General Physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SDSU.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read more about General Physics at SDSU

15

California State University - Northridge came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 27 ’s general physics degrees in 2020-2021.

CSUN also made our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Northridge is $7,103 for California General Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Read more about General Physics at CSUN

16

With a ranking of #16, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly Pomona, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best General Physics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is $12,992 for California General Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona General Physics Report

17

California State University - Sacramento landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 23 ’s general physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,055 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Sac State.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Physics at California State University - Sacramento

18

University of California - Merced ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Merced, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general physics degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.

UC Merced also made our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $11,400 for California General Physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Merced.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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 UC Merced General Physics Report

19

With a ranking of #19, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general physics degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also made our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $13,194 for california general physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Physics at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

20
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value General Physics Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Arcata, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s general physics students in 2020-2021.

Humboldt State University also made our “Best General Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Humboldt State University is $12,298 for California General Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Humboldt State University General Physics Report

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