Best Schools for General Physics in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general physics education in California.
Top Schools in General Physics
University Of Southern California tops our 2026 ranking of the best general physics schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 general physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
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Students looking for a strong general physics program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $100,827 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general physics program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 general physics students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong general physics program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #4. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 213 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $53,597. Typical student debt for the program is $15,982.
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Harvey Mudd College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general physics, ranking #5. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Harvey Mudd College graduates 92% of students within six years. About 10 general physics degrees were awarded at Harvey Mudd College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Harvey Mudd College generally make around $130,443. Harvey Mudd College graduates carry a median of $22,730 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best general physics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 146 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $78,272 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,508.
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Pepperdine University earned the #7 position for general physics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $57,582. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $23,645 in student loans.
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Pomona College placed #8 among the best general physics schools. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pomona College awarded about 17 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #9 for general physics this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 147 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $88,623. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $21,100 in student loans.
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California Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for general physics this year. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 58 general physics students who graduated with this degree at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. General Physics graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers.
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University Of California Davis ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general physics schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 65 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. General Physics graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $16,464 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine placed #12 among the best general physics schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 69 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $43,144. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general physics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 72 general physics degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $68,987 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,800.
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California State University Fullerton placed #14 among the best general physics schools. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 14 general physics degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. Typical student debt for the program is $15,525.
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University Of San Francisco placed #15 among the best general physics schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 general physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from University Of San Francisco earn around $65,223 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best general physics schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Francisco State University awarded about 31 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $50,955 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento placed #17 among the best general physics schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Sacramento awarded about 10 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $49,907 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete this degree.
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University Of Redlands ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general physics schools. Located in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 general physics degrees were awarded at University Of Redlands in the most recent year. Students who receive their general physics degree from University Of Redlands earn around $57,218 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,175.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #19 among the best general physics schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. About 32 general physics degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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College Of The Canyons came in at #20 for general physics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. There were roughly 32 general physics students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Canyons in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from College Of The Canyons earn around $51,913 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University earned the #21 position for general physics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 27 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from San Diego State University earn around $51,162 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans.
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University Of California Merced came in at #22 for general physics this year. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. University Of California Merced graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of California Merced awarded about 27 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. General Physics graduates of University Of California Merced earn a median of $42,071 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,318 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #23 for general physics this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 54 general physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $37,859. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach placed #24 among the best general physics schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 42 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $42,057. Typical student debt for the program is $23,229.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #25 among the best general physics schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 25 general physics degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $64,045 early in their careers. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Physics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general physics this year:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 146 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
