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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics in Virginia

11 Ranked Colleges
308 Degrees Awarded
$20,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor's in Virginia

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 Virginia” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Virginia, there were 406 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,100 and $25,999 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 308 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 Virginia”.

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 Virginia

The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia bachelor’s degree physics students.

Top 11 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics in Virginia

#1

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#2 in overall quality
$21,198 Average Net Price
$41,937 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the #1 spot on the list. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 75 students in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech also took the #2 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $21,198 for virginia bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend Virginia Tech.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%.

Read more about Physics at Virginia Tech

#2

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
#4 in overall quality
$22,169 Average Net Price
$57,318 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend James Madison University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia. James Madison University is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

JMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend JMU is $22,169 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at James Madison University

#3

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#1 in overall quality
$20,397 Average Net Price
$57,556 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia. This large school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia is $20,397 for Virginia 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 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Physics Report

#4

Radford University

Radford, Virginia
#10 in overall quality
$16,447 Average Net Price
$37,208 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Radford University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Radford, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Radford, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Radford University is $16,447 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

Full Radford University Physics Report

#5

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, Virginia
#5 in overall quality
$17,804 Average Net Price
$40,737 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Military Institute. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Virginia Military Institute is a small school located in Lexington, Virginia that handed out 12 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

VMI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $17,804 for virginia bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend Virginia Military Institute.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Virginia Military Institute

#6

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia
#6 in overall quality
$22,021 Average Net Price
$47,260 Average Early-Career Earnings

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Virginia Commonwealth University is a large school located in Richmond, Virginia that handed out 38 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

VCU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Commonwealth University is $22,021 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at VCU

#7

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
#8 in overall quality
$21,048 Average Net Price

With a ranking of #7, George Mason University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. George Mason University is a large public school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 13 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

GMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend George Mason University is $21,048 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, 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 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full George Mason University Physics Report

#8

University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, Virginia
#9 in overall quality
$21,907 Average Net Price

University of Mary Washington ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Fredericksburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

UMW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $21,907 for virginia bachelor’s degree physics students per year to attend University of Mary Washington.

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%.

Full UMW Physics Report

#9

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
#3 in overall quality
$19,800 Average Net Price
$33,993 Average Early-Career Earnings

William & Mary came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 29 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

William & Mary also took the #3 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $19,800 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend William & Mary.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 William & Mary

#10

Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, Virginia
#11 in overall quality
$17,929 Average Net Price
$39,729 Average Early-Career Earnings

With a ranking of #10, Bridgewater College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Bridgewater is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bridgewater, Virginia. It awarded 6 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Bridgewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $17,929 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Physics students per year to attend Bridgewater College.

Read more about Physics at Bridgewater

#11

Roanoke College

Salem, Virginia
#7 in overall quality
$25,135 Average Net Price

Roanoke College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Salem, Virginia, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Roanoke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Roanoke College is $25,135 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Physics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Roanoke College

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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