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2022 Best Value Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

13 Ranked Colleges
492 Degrees Awarded
$14,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

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 Illinois, there were 492 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,100 and $21,278 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 13 colleges that offered a degree in physics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent physics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the physics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $1,866 for Illinois Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Physics at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 103 ’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $2,712 for Illinois Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Physics at UChicago

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 121 ’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $5,477 for illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #4 spot on the list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUE has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $8,055 for illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Physics at SIUE

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $10,648 for illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIC.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Illinois at Chicago

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 13 ’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also made our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $13,658 for illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUC.

Read more about Physics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#7

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $14,470 for Illinois Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full Illinois State University Physics Report

#8

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 18 ’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $15,281 for Illinois Physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Full NIU Physics Report

#9

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 10 ’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, WIU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WIU is $13,942 for illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Physics at Western Illinois University

With a ranking of #10, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 19 ’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois Tech, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois Tech is $17,222 for illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Illinois Institute of Technology

#11

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Columbia College Chicago landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 3 ’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $27,120 for illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Columbia College Chicago.

Read full report on Physics at Columbia College Chicago

#12

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago also made our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Loyola Chicago is $29,440 for illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Full Loyola Chicago Physics Report

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 9 ’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, DePaul has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul is $26,173 for Illinois Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Read more about Physics at DePaul

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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