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2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region

47 Ranked Colleges
1,683 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor's in the Far Western US Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 the Far Western US region, there were 3,784 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,070 and $20,138 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,683 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,083 and $22,209 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking looked at 47 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great physics programs and 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 Far Western US Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics in the Far Western US Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 53 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $9,622 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full CSULB Physics Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - San Marcos. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region. California State University - San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSM, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State University - San Marcos is $13,399 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

Full CSUSM Physics Report

#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Channel Islands. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Camarillo, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students list, CSUCI has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Channel Islands is $13,558 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at California State University - Channel Islands

#18 in overall quality

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #4 spot on the list. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 19 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $7,991 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Cal State Fullerton

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona also took the #17 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is $12,734 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Physics at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

California State University - Chico landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Chico is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 13 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Chico State is $15,017 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students.

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 Chico State

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $9,979 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Sac State

University of Nevada - Reno landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Reno, Nevada, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UNR also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend University of Nevada - Reno is $15,081 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

Read more about Physics at UNR

#9

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $15,113 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend SFSU.

Full SFSU Physics Report

University of Nevada - Las Vegas came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UNLV is $11,424 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students.

Read more about Physics at UNLV

#11

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CSUSB is $7,342 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full CSUSB Physics Report

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $14,788 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend SDSU.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SDSU Physics Report

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #13. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large public school situated in Bakersfield, California. It awarded 5 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend CSUB is $5,318 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

Full CSUB Physics Report

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 16 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,768 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend Cal State LA.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at California State University - Los Angeles

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #15. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $21,595 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The low student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Physics at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

#16

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Bellingham, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend WWU is $16,529 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at WWU

#17

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington

Central Washington University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in Ellensburg, Washington, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,397 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend CWU.

Full CWU Physics Report

#18

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California

Humboldt State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Arcata, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Humboldt State University is $14,692 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students.

Read more about Physics at Humboldt State University

California State University - East Bay came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cal State East Bay is $11,116 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students.

Full California State University - East Bay Physics Report

#20

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

Washington State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Pullman, Washington, this large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Wazzu is $16,358 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Washington State University

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $6,019 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at Stan State

California State University - Fresno ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 6 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $5,464 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Physics at Fresno State

#23

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington

With a ranking of #23, Eastern Washington University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. Cheney, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,607 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend EWU.

Read full report on Physics at EWU

#24

Portland State University

Portland, Oregon

Portland State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #24. Portland State University is a large school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 27 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Portland State University is $13,040 for far western us region bachelor’s degree physics students.

Read full report on Physics at Portland State University

California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region list. CSUDH is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 4 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,215 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend CSUDH.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at California State University - Dominguez Hills

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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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