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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $48-$75k) in Pennsylvania

18 Ranked Colleges
430 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor's in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Physics is the 67th most popular major in the country with 14,123 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Pennsylvania, there were 549 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,900 and $27,000 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 430 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in physics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality physics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the physics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. 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 Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $48-$75k) in Pennsylvania

#1

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Pennsylvania is $12,752 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 University of Pennsylvania Physics Report

#2

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carnegie Mellon, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $18,276 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Carnegie Mellon University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Physics at Carnegie Mellon University

#3

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

SRU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is $19,459 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full SRU Physics Report

#4

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

WCUPA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend WCUPA is $21,156 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Physics at WCUPA

#5

Allegheny College

Meadville, Pennsylvania
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Allegheny College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. Allegheny is a private not-for-profit institution located in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Allegheny also took the #8 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $19,508 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Allegheny College.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.

Read more about Physics at Allegheny

#6

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
#9 in overall quality

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

East Stroudsburg University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $21,106 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend East Stroudsburg University.

Read more about Physics at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

#7

California University of Pennsylvania

California, Pennsylvania
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, California University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in California, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal U also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for California University of Pennsylvania is $18,494 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Physics at California University of Pennsylvania

#8

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Bloomsburg has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is $19,625 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Physics at Bloomsburg

#9

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion, Pennsylvania
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Clarion University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. Clarion University of Pennsylvania is a small school located in Clarion, Pennsylvania that handed out 4 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Clarion University, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Clarion University of Pennsylvania is $19,358 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Clarion University of Pennsylvania Physics Report

#10

Lock Haven University

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #10, Lock Haven University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. LHU is located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

LHU also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for LHU is $20,433 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full LHU Physics Report

#11

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Temple is $21,743 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Temple University Physics Report

#12

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, Pennsylvania
#10 in overall quality

Millersville University of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Millersville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $23,047 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Millersville.

Read full report on Physics at Millersville

#13

Lebanon Valley College

Annville, Pennsylvania
#6 in overall quality

Lebanon Valley College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Annville, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

LVC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lebanon Valley College is $25,505 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at LVC

#7 in overall quality

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is a large school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 15 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Pitt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is $25,110 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

#15

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Kutztown University is a medium-sized public school situated in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 5 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Kutztown University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is $22,036 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Physics at Kutztown University

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. Indiana, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

IUP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend IUP is $22,689 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Physics at IUP

#17

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#3 in overall quality

Drexel University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drexel, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drexel University is $33,324 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at Drexel

#18

Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Wilkes University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Wilkes University is a small school located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania that handed out 2 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Wilkes not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $24,564 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Wilkes University.

Full Wilkes Physics Report

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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