2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Doctorate” 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.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,801 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate” ranking looked at 137 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Doctorate”.
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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate.
Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics
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 Doctorate list. Brigham Young University - Provo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at BYU are $7,510, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Austin. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. UT Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886.
Read full report on Physics at The University of Texas at Austin
Out of the 137 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, Wyoming and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wyoming are $16,615, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 137 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas Tech is located in Lubbock, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech are $17,530, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. This small school is located in Rapid City, South Dakota, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at SD Mines are $19,250, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Physics Report
With a ranking of #7, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Iowa State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State University are $25,948, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UMN Twin Cities is also in the top of our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.
University of North Texas landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. UNT is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Clemson University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. Clemson, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Clemson University are $23,246, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Houston ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Kansas State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Kansas State University are $24,115, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #14, Montana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. Montana State University is a public institution located in Bozeman, Montana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Montana State University are $21,446, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #15. Texas A&M University - College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Utah came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. U of U is a public institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Utah are $24,695.
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Norman, Oklahoma, this large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma are $23,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Physics at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
With a ranking of #18, University of Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 16 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Kansas came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. KU is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Virginia Tech ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Virginia Tech are $30,547, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #21, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Northeastern University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Northeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 10 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
Northeastern also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University are $25,558.
University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of New Mexico - Main Campus are $19,890, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. University of Alabama at Birmingham is a large school located in Birmingham, Alabama that handed out 6 doctorate’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 University of Alabama at Birmingham are $19,188.
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate ranking. OHIO Athens is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712.
Read full report on Physics at Ohio University - Athens Campus
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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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