by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual reviewed 10 schools in California to determine which ones were the best for doctor's degree seekers in the field of physics. Combined, these schools handed out 230 doctor's degrees in physics to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The physics doctor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To account for this we include a school's overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of doctorate graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their doctor's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for physics students working on their doctor's degree.
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Physics Doctor's Degree Schools in California list to help you make the college decision.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a doctor's degree in physics.
It's hard to beat Stanford University if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in physics. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from Stanford University
Every student pursuing a degree in a doctor's degree in physics has to check out University of California - Santa Barbara. UCSB is a fairly large public university located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of California - Santa Barbara
University of California - Berkeley is a good option for individuals interested in a doctor's degree in physics. Located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public university with a very large student population.
After graduation, physics doctorate recipients typically make about $75,527 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a doctorate in physics from University of California - Berkeley
University of California - Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a doctor's degree in physics. UCLA is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Los Angeles.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of California - Los Angeles
Located in the medium-sized city of Pasadena, Caltech is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from California Institute of Technology
Located in the large city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of California - San Diego
Located in the large city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of California - Irvine
UC Davis is a very large public university located in the suburb of Davis.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of California - Davis
UC Merced is a medium-sized public university located in the rural area of Merced.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of California - Merced
Located in the city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public university with a large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of California - Santa Cruz
Explore all the Best Physics Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 122 | 34 |
| Oregon | 107 | 17 |
| Nevada | 84 | 9 |
| Hawaii | 53 | 1 |
| Alaska | 19 | 1 |
Physics is one of 8 different types of Physical Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Physics | 203 |
| Other Physics | 27 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 359 |
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 125 |
| Materials Sciences | 46 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 28 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 4 |
| Other Physical Science | 1 |
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