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2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

16 Ranked Colleges
461 Degrees Awarded
$11,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor's in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 14,123 people earned their degree in physics, making the major the 67th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, physics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $42,475 and had an average of $22,421 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 723 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,000 and $21,896 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 461 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,887 and $24,387 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great physics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the physics program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The physics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in Massachusetts

#1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. MIT is a fairly large school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 83 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

MIT also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend MIT is $4,535 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at MIT

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k. Harvard is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 45 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harvard is $2,973 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Harvard University

#3

Williams College

Williamstown, Massachusetts
#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Williams College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Williams is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Williams also took the #13 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Williams College is $2,498 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Williams

#4

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeastern University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern is $10,239 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Northeastern

#5

Wellesley College

Wellesley, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Wellesley College landed the #5 spot on the list. Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Wellesley also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Wellesley is $8,785 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Physics at Wellesley

#6

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

Boston College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Boston College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The estimated yearly cost for Boston College is $6,353 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Physics at Boston College

#7

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

College of the Holy Cross did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Worcester, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

Holy Cross also took the #2 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Holy Cross is $15,036 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Physics at College of the Holy Cross

#8

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts
#12 in overall quality

Smith College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Northampton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 13 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Smith also took the #12 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Smith is $6,075 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Smith

#9

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#6 in overall quality

Boston University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Boston U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston U also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Boston U is $12,903 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Physics at Boston University

#10

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMass Amherst is a large public school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 51 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UMass Amherst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Massachusetts Amherst is $13,137 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at University of Massachusetts Amherst

#11

University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

University of Massachusetts - Lowell landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lowell, Massachusetts, this fairly large public school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMass Lowell, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $11,560 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMass Lowell.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at University of Massachusetts - Lowell

#12

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Brandeis University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Brandeis is a medium-sized school located in Waltham, Massachusetts that handed out 11 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Brandeis also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Brandeis University is $13,567 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at Brandeis University

#13

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Bridgewater State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bridgewater State, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” ranking. It costs about $13,332 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bridgewater State University.

Read full report on Physics at Bridgewater State University

#14

University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston, Massachusetts
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Massachusetts - Boston did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

UMass Boston did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Massachusetts - Boston is $13,859 for Massachusetts Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Physics at University of Massachusetts - Boston

#15

Wheaton College Massachusetts

Norton, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

Wheaton College Massachusetts landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small school located in Norton, Massachusetts that handed out 14 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Massachusetts did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list. It costs about $20,511 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wheaton College Massachusetts.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Wheaton College Massachusetts

#16

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Suffolk University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Massachusetts For Those Making $0-$30k list. Suffolk University is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Suffolk also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Massachusetts” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Suffolk is $27,748 for massachusetts bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Suffolk

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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