2027 Best Value General Physics Schools in the New England Region
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general physics students.
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2027 Best Value General Physics Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Physics Schools
Bowdoin College earned the #1 spot for value among general physics schools in the New England Region. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,832. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $20,658. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 7%.
A rank of #2 makes Colby College one of the best values for general physics. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,600. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $22,016. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Colby College generally make around $46,772. Set against $22,016 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 7%.
Students looking for strong value in general physics will find it at University Of Massachusetts Lowell, which ranked #3. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. General Physics graduates carry a median of $22,177 in student loans. General Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $48,324 early in their careers. Set against $22,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Harvard University one of the best values for general physics. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. General Physics graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Bridgewater State University one of the best values for general physics. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,734, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. General Physics graduates carry a median of $26,632 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $48,937. That is a strong return on a $26,632 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for value in general physics this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $54,773. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
Yale University earned the #7 position for value in general physics this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $14,357. Early-career general physics graduates make about $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general physics schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general physics schools. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. General Physics graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. That is a strong return on a $13,025 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Boston University came in at #10 for value in general physics this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general physics schools. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. General Physics graduates carry a median of $26,324 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $32,341. Set against $26,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Wellesley College came in at #12 for value in general physics this year. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,176 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,075 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $48,902. That is a strong return on a $11,075 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Smith College came in at #13 for value in general physics this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Students borrow a median of $18,941 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of Smith College earn a median of $40,436 early in their careers. Set against $18,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Bates College landed the #14 spot for general physics value this year. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,590. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $12,226. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Bates College generally make around $43,933. Set against $12,226 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College placed #15 among the best values for general physics. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,600. General Physics graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans. General Physics graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,948 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value general physics schools. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $26,797. Early-career general physics graduates make about $49,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Brandeis University placed #17 among the best values for general physics. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Students borrow a median of $25,653 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $47,783. That is a strong return on a $25,653 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Holy Cross placed #18 among the best values for general physics. College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Students from in state pay about $64,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,387 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from College Of The Holy Cross generally make around $51,478. That is a strong return on a $26,387 median debt. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University earned the #19 position for value in general physics this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $68,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,702 in tuition and fees. General Physics graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $66,132. That is a strong return on a $18,101 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #21 for value in general physics this year. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,765. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $91,834 early in their careers. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
