General Physics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 260 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general physics schools.
Where you study general physics matters for your future. To help, we created our Best General Physics Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Physics Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for General Physics in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 school for general physics. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 61 general physics degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for general physics. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 24 general physics degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $79,632 early in their careers. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
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Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general physics, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 40 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general physics, ranking #4. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 114 general physics degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general physics, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 63 general physics degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $74,352 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Rice University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 general physics degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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Washington University In St Louis came in at #7 for general physics this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 48 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
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Brown University landed the #8 spot for general physics this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 96 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $62,820 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
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Duke University placed #9 among the best general physics schools. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 27 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $83,388 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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Yale University came in at #10 for general physics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 103 general physics degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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Boston College earned the #11 position for general physics this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. Boston College awarded about 27 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $66,132 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general physics from Boston College
Princeton University earned the #12 position for general physics this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 93 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 12 general physics degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their general physics degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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Tufts University earned the #14 position for general physics this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Tufts University awarded about 27 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley landed the #15 spot for general physics this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 171 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $78,272. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,508 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University landed the #16 spot for general physics this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $84,850 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago placed #17 among the best general physics schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 126 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $81,002 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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Middlebury College landed the #18 spot for general physics this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. Middlebury College awarded about 14 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. General Physics graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
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Bowdoin College came in at #19 for general physics this year. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Bowdoin College earn around $58,938 in the first couple years of their career. Bowdoin College graduates carry a median of $20,658 in student loans.
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Colgate University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,286.
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Cornell University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 96 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Cornell University earn around $50,933 in the first couple years of their career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,961 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $53,329 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,522 to complete this degree.
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Carnegie Mellon University earned the #23 position for general physics this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 50 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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Pepperdine University landed the #24 spot for general physics this year. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Pepperdine University awarded about 11 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. General Physics graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $57,582 early in their careers. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $23,645 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine came in at #25 for general physics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 82 general physics degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $43,144 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Physics Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general physics education:
General Physics is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 260 schools evaluated.
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).
