by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/general-physics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general physics students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in general physics, no school beat Grinnell College this year. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,196. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $17,154. General Physics graduates of Grinnell College earn a median of $38,888 early in their careers. Set against $17,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Students looking for strong value in general physics will find it at Coe College, which ranked #2. Coe College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $54,666 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $27,000. General Physics graduates of Coe College earn a median of $44,511 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Coe College admits about 64% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #3 place for general physics. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. General Physics graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. That is a strong return on a $24,463 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.