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2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California

10 Ranked Colleges
245 Degrees Awarded
$35,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 California, there were 3,131 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,486 and $19,317 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 245 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking analyzed 10 colleges that offered 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 Doctorate in California”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california doctor’s degree physics students.

Top 11 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics in California

#1

University of California - San Diego

La Jolla, California
#3 in overall quality
$28,631 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$122,038 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Diego. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCSD Physics Report

#2

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality
$28,670 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$84,653 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 20 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also took the #7 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at University of California - Santa Barbara

#3

University of California - Davis

Davis, California
#5 in overall quality
$28,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$98,743 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Davis Physics Report

#4

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality
$28,131 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$54,713 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 22 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCLA Physics Report

#5

University of California - Irvine

Irvine, California
#8 in overall quality
$28,456 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$91,744 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Irvine Physics Report

#6

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#4 in overall quality
$29,347 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$72,899 Average Early-Career Earnings

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #6. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 45 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree physics students list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at UC Berkeley

#7

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#9 in overall quality
$28,686 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California list. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Riverside Physics Report

#8

University of California - Merced

Merced, California
#11 in overall quality
$43,854 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

University of California - Merced ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California list. UC Merced is located in Merced, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.

UC Merced also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at University of California - Merced

#8

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#10 in overall quality
$28,952 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Physics Report

#9

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality
$55,011 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees
$94,408 Average Early-Career Earnings

Stanford University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 57 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at Stanford University

#10

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#2 in overall quality
$56,649 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

California Institute of Technology came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Caltech also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at California Institute of Technology

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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