2026 Best Value General Physics Schools in Minnesota

[General Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/general-physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general physics education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general physics schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Physics Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Physics Schools
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 best value for general physics in Minnesota. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $23,594. General Physics graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $54,350 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,594 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Minnesota Duluth one of the best values for general physics. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $24,624. Early-career general physics graduates make about $46,572. That is a strong return on a $24,624 median debt. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes St Olaf College one of the best values for general physics. St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,760. General Physics graduates carry a median of $23,762 in student loans. General Physics graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $40,848 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Carleton College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general physics, landing the #4 spot this year. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,892. General Physics graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans. General Physics graduates of Carleton College earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,566 median debt. Roughly 20% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general physics will find it at Bethel University Minnesota, which ranked #5. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $44,226 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $61,465 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,639 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
More General Physics Rankings
View All General Physics Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 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.