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2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

14 Ranked Colleges
711 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 13,674 people earned their degree in physics, making the major the 68th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, physics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $42,960 and had an average of $22,756 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 711 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $55,327 and $23,299 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality physics programs that also have a lower cost than 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Physics (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

1

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 94 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,911 for plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Minnesota - Twin Cities Physics Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 34 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,641 for plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Iowa State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa State Physics Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,715 for plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Mizzou.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Full Mizzou Physics Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a medium-sized public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 13 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $13,364 for plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Full UMN Duluth Physics Report

5
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Olaf College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. St Olaf College is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

St. Olaf not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for St Olaf College is $15,453 for plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad 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%. 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 College

6
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $18,026 for Plains States Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at University of Iowa

7
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

Carleton College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 19 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Carleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Carleton is $15,991 for Plains States Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 more about Physics at Carleton

8

Wichita State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this fairly large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

WSU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $14,581 for Plains States Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Physics at Wichita State University

9
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saint Peter, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

Gustavus Adolphus also took the #12 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus College is $20,188 for Plains States Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus College Physics Report

10

With a ranking of #10, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UMKC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 11 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMKC has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMKC is $15,768 for plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 University of Missouri - Kansas City

11

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

Missouri State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $15,950 for plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Missouri State University - Springfield

12
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

KU also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $18,586 for plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Physics at KU

13
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Winona State is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $15,289 for plains states region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Winona State University

14
Creighton crest
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska

With a ranking of #14, Creighton University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.

Creighton also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $27,314 for Plains States Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Creighton University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Creighton

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