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2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

25 Ranked Colleges
565 Degrees Awarded
$38,600 Avg Salary
Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region 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. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 the Plains States region, there were 767 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,600 and $24,015 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 565 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 25 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 16 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri University of Science and Technology did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri University of Science and Technology is $13,058 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 3.1% 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 full report on Physics at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#17 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 5 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMN Morris has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Morris is $7,558 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 full report on Physics at UMN Morris

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 46 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,556 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

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%. 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 UMN Twin Cities

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Olaf College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,577 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend St Olaf College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Physics at St. Olaf

#5

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Truman State University is a public institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Truman State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,031 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Truman State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Truman State Physics Report

With a ranking of #6, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,145 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Mizzou.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Physics Report

#7

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 14 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UNI has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $15,729 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at UNI

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

UMN Duluth also took the #16 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,438 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#9

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#19 in overall quality

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

UMSL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - St Louis is $7,894 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Physics at University of Missouri - St Louis

#12 in overall quality

Iowa State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $14,161 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Physics at Iowa State University

#11

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#6 in overall quality

Kansas State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Kansas State University is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 21 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $16,889 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Physics at Kansas State University

#25 in overall quality

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $11,988 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Physics at Northwest Missouri State University

Fort Hays State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. FHSU is located in Hays, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

FHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,549 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Fort Hays State University.

Read more about Physics at FHSU

#14

Concordia College at Moorhead

Moorhead, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Concordia College at Moorhead did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Concordia College Moorhead did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia College Moorhead is $20,924 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Concordia College at Moorhead Physics Report

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a small public school situated in Rapid City, South Dakota. It awarded 6 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

SD Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is $20,299 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

#16

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Wichita, Kansas 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.

WSU also took the #24 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $14,386 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Physics at WSU

#17

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

University of Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. KU is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 9 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

KU also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $17,132 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Physics at University of Kansas

#18

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Hamline University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hamline, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hamline University is $18,963 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Hamline

#19

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#21 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City is $14,571 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Physics Report

#23 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Missouri State also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,204 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Missouri State Physics Report

#21

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota

With a ranking of #21, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Peter, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gustavus Adolphus, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,548 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Physics at Gustavus Adolphus

#22

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bethel University Minnesota landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Bethel University Minnesota did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Bethel University Minnesota is $22,228 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Physics Report

#23

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

Luther College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. Decorah, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Luther also took the #5 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Luther is $19,852 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Luther College

#24

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Augsburg University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Augsburg is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 3 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Augsburg, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Augsburg University is $23,301 for plains states region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Physics at Augsburg

#25

Creighton University

Omaha, Nebraska
#20 in overall quality

Creighton University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Creighton is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Creighton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Creighton University is $28,383 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Physics at Creighton

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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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