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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics in the Rocky Mountains Region

19 Ranked Colleges
388 Degrees Awarded
$14,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor's in the Rocky Mountains Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Rocky Mountains Region” 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 Rocky Mountains region, there were 589 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $21,066 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 388 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,111 and $23,874 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking, we looked at 19 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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 Rocky Mountains Region

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

Top 19 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics in the Rocky Mountains Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. BYU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

BYU also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $13,322 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend Brigham Young University - Provo.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at BYU

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Rexburg, Idaho, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

BYU - I also took the #6 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $7,167 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend BYU - I.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full BYU - I Physics Report

#3

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #3 spot on the list. Laramie, Wyoming 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.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students list, UW has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW is $12,159 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at University of Wyoming

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Weber State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. WSU is a large school located in Ogden, Utah that handed out 8 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for WSU is $11,968 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

Read full report on Physics at WSU

#5

University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Idaho. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region. Moscow, Idaho 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.

U of I also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for University of Idaho is $14,132 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students.

Full U of I Physics Report

#6

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. U of U is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 30 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

U of U also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $14,773 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend U of U.

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 2.6% 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 U of U Physics Report

With a ranking of #7, University of Northern Colorado did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. University of Northern Colorado is a public institution located in Greeley, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Northern Colorado also took the #10 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $15,714 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend University of Northern Colorado.

Full University of Northern Colorado Physics Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Utah State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Utah State University is a public institution located in Logan, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USU also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $13,634 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend USU.

Read more about Physics at Utah State University

#18 in overall quality

Utah Valley University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Utah Valley University is a large school located in Orem, Utah that handed out 16 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $9,159 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend UVU.

Full UVU Physics Report

#10

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana
#7 in overall quality

The University of Montana landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. UM is a medium-sized public school situated in Missoula, Montana. It awarded 10 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UM, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $15,246 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend The University of Montana.

Full The University of Montana Physics Report

#11

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Montana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Montana State University is a fairly large public school situated in Bozeman, Montana. It awarded 9 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Bozeman also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Montana State University is $19,202 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

Full MSU Bozeman Physics Report

#12

Idaho State University

Pocatello, Idaho
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Idaho State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Pocatello, Idaho is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students list, ISU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $16,810 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend Idaho State University.

Read more about Physics at ISU

#13

Fort Lewis College

Durango, Colorado
#16 in overall quality

Fort Lewis College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Fort Lewis College is a small school located in Durango, Colorado that handed out 2 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

FLC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $16,274 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend Fort Lewis College.

Read more about Physics at Fort Lewis College

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Metropolitan State University of Denver did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Metropolitan State University of Denver is a fairly large school located in Denver, Colorado that handed out 9 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Denver did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend MSU Denver is $14,257 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students.

Full MSU Denver Physics Report

#11 in overall quality

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This large school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

CU Anschutz also took the #11 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $15,358 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend CU Anschutz.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CU Anschutz Physics Report

Colorado State University - Fort Collins ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Colorado State University - Fort Collins is a public institution located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Colorado State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $18,668 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins.

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

Read full report on Physics at Colorado State University - Fort Collins

#17

Boise State University

Boise, Idaho

Boise State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Boise, Idaho, this large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Boise State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $15,787 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend Boise State.

Read full report on Physics at Boise State University

#18

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, Colorado
#19 in overall quality

Colorado Mesa University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #18. Grand Junction, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Colorado Mesa also took the #19 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado Mesa University is $15,569 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

Read full report on Physics at Colorado Mesa

#19

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado

With a ranking of #19, University of Colorado Boulder did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Boulder, Colorado, this large public school awarded 72 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

CU - Boulder also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Colorado Boulder is $21,680 for rocky mountains 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. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at University of Colorado Boulder

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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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