2026 Best Value General Physics Schools in Illinois
[General Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/general-physics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools to find the best return on investment for general physics students.
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2026 Best Value General Physics Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Physics Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $61,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general physics will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $77,211. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in general physics will find it at University Of Chicago, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. General Physics graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. General Physics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lewis University earned it the #4 place for general physics. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. General Physics graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $55,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Illinois State University earned it the #5 place for general physics. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,896 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Northwestern University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,704. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $26,857. Early-career general physics graduates make about $50,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #8 spot for general physics value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. General Physics graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $58,568. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
More General Physics Rankings
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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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
