2026 Best Value General Physics Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Physics Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in general physics in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. General Physics graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $51,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. General Physics graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $58,388. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general physics will find it at Princeton University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. General Physics graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #4 place for general physics. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Students borrow a median of $13,287 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. That is a strong return on a $13,287 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Stanford University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. General Physics graduates carry a median of $18,138 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $55,826. Set against $18,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Sacramento ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $17,492. General Physics graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $49,907 early in their careers. Set against $17,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University earned the #8 position for value in general physics this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach came in at #9 for value in general physics this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $23,229 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $42,057 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Utah Valley University placed #10 among the best values for general physics. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $16,478. Early-career general physics graduates make about $51,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of California San Diego placed #11 among the best values for general physics. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. General Physics graduates carry a median of $16,800 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $48,951. Set against $16,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Florida International University earned the #12 position for value in general physics this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Socorro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,476, while out-of-state students pay about $27,247. General Physics graduates carry a median of $18,747 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology generally make around $64,561. Set against $18,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #14 spot for general physics value this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. General Physics graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $46,094. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University earned the #15 position for value in general physics this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. General Physics graduates carry a median of $20,765 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $51,884. Set against $20,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Georgia came in at #16 for value in general physics this year. Set in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,444, with out-of-state students paying around $16,956. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $21,439. General Physics graduates of University Of North Georgia earn a median of $43,714 early in their careers. Set against $21,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
New Mexico State University Main Campus earned the #17 position for value in general physics this year. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $19,026. Early-career general physics graduates make about $41,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine placed #18 among the best values for general physics. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $15,000. General Physics graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $43,144 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
San Jose State University earned the #19 position for value in general physics this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #20 spot for general physics value this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Students borrow a median of $19,200 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $62,647. Set against $19,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus earned the #21 position for value in general physics this year. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,919, with out-of-state students paying around $43,155. Students borrow a median of $17,113 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $41,474. That is a strong return on a $17,113 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. General Physics graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans. General Physics graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $50,955 early in their careers. Set against $17,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #23 spot for general physics value this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $23,000. Early-career general physics graduates make about $64,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #24 position for value in general physics this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,982 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $53,597. Set against $15,982 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso placed #25 among the best values for general physics. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,819 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $48,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Physics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general physics value ranking:
Other General Physics Degree Levels
Explore the best-value general physics schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 946 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 145 ranked schools only.
- 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.
[General Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/general-physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
