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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

31 Ranked Colleges
281 Degrees Awarded
$29,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” 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 the Great Lakes region, there were 1,820 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,980 and $21,326 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 281 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 31 colleges that offer 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

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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree physics students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 13 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #5 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 14 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at UIUC

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#4

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 13 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Physics Report

#5

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 16 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on Physics at IU Bloomington

#17 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 4 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Physics Report

With a ranking of #7, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 2 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013.

Read full report on Physics at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#6 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 28 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio State Physics Report

#9

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 14 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at Michigan State University

#10

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#20 in overall quality

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ball State Physics Report

#18 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 4 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#12

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Read full report on Physics at Northwestern

#13

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

Western Illinois University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

WIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at Western Illinois University

#14

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

NIU also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northern Illinois University Physics Report

#15

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan are $26,552.

Full Eastern Michigan University Physics Report

#16

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#25 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 3 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physics students with aid list, UWM has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physics at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#17

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 1 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakland, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland University are $24,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at Oakland

#18

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#21 in overall quality

Central Michigan University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 4 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also took the #21 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359.

Read full report on Physics at Central Michigan University

#19

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Wayne State University is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Wayne State University Physics Report

#20

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#19 in overall quality

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

WMU also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physics at Western Michigan University

Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 3 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286.

Read more about Physics at Wright State University - Main Campus

#22 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at Kent State

#13 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 9 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physics students with aid list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697.

Read full report on Physics at Miami University - Oxford

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 6 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at UC

#14 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 20 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Physics Report

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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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