2027 Best General Physics Schools in the Southeast Region
General Physics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general physics programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general physics students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for General Physics in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general physics education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in General Physics
Our analysis ranked Duke University the best school in the country for a degree in general physics. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 97% of students finish within six years. Duke University awarded about 27 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Duke University earn around $83,388 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
See the full general physics program report for Duke University
A rank of #2 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top schools for general physics. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. General Physics graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
See the full general physics program report for Vanderbilt University
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 61 general physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general physics from University Of Virginia Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes Davidson College one of the top schools for general physics. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Davidson. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Davidson College awarded about 15 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Davidson College earn around $41,505 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general physics from Davidson College
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 general physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $62,647. Students borrow a median of $19,200 to complete this degree.
See the full general physics program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Rhodes College earned the #6 position for general physics this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 15 general physics degrees were awarded at Rhodes College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Rhodes College earn around $40,807 in the first couple years of their career. Rhodes College graduates carry a median of $23,078 in student loans.
See the full general physics program report for Rhodes College
University Of Central Florida earned the #7 position for general physics this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 66 general physics degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $55,826 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,138.
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George Mason University earned the #8 position for general physics this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 general physics students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $63,131 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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Furman University came in at #9 for general physics this year. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. Furman University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 11 general physics degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of Furman University earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,764 to complete this degree.
See the full general physics program report for Furman University
College Of William And Mary landed the #10 spot for general physics this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 50 general physics students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $53,338 in the first couple years of their career. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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Auburn University earned the #11 position for general physics this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Auburn University awarded about 37 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. General Physics graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans.
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James Madison University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. James Madison University awarded about 20 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. General Physics graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $52,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,218 to complete this degree.
See the full general physics program report for James Madison University
Emory University came in at #13 for general physics this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. Emory University graduates 91% of students within six years. About 38 general physics degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of Emory University earn a median of $67,840 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,431.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #14 among the best general physics schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 92 general physics degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $83,560 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,831.
More information about a degree in general physics from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College awarded about 37 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $49,718 in their early career. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates carry a median of $21,348 in student loans.
See the full general physics program report for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Clemson University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 33 general physics degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. General Physics graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $53,834 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,783.
More information about a degree in general physics from Clemson University
University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. Located in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 27 general physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Huntsville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from University Of Alabama At Huntsville earn around $62,903 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,797.
More information about a degree in general physics from University Of Alabama At Huntsville
Florida State University came in at #18 for general physics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 42 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $51,884 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,765.
More information about a degree in general physics from Florida State University
University Of Florida earned the #19 position for general physics this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 77 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. General Physics graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
See the full general physics program report for University Of Florida
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #20 among the best general physics schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 64 general physics students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $43,740 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $23,490 in student loans.
See the full general physics program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general physics schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 general physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $70,150 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,750.
See the full general physics program report for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
The University Of Alabama landed the #22 spot for general physics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 general physics students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $50,740 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general physics from The University Of Alabama
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #23 among the best general physics schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 56 general physics students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $58,061 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general physics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
West Virginia University came in at #24 for general physics this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 general physics degrees were awarded at West Virginia University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general physics degree from West Virginia University earn around $51,750 in the first couple years of their career. West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general physics from West Virginia University
Florida International University came in at #25 for general physics this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Florida International University awarded about 38 general physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general physics program make about $52,517 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general physics program at Florida International University
Rest of the Top 35 General Physics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general physics ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 35 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.