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2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

23 Ranked Colleges
294 Degrees Awarded
$33,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 in the Great Lakes Region” 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 the Great Lakes region, there were 1,820 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,980 and $21,326 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 294 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,428 and $121,375 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 23 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.

More Ways to Rank Physics Schools

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 the Great Lakes Region”.

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 Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

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

Top 23 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Physics Report

#2

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #2 spot on the list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 4 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full NIU Physics Report

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 11 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712.

Read full report on Physics at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#14 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kent State University at Kent. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Kent State University at Kent is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Kent State also took the #14 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Kent State University at Kent Physics Report

#5

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#21 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Michigan University landed the #5 spot on the list. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at Central Michigan

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Read full report on Physics at Purdue University - Main Campus

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 39 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physics at UIC

#9

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

WMU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at Western Michigan University

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree physics students list, IUPUI has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013.

Read more about Physics at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#11

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physics at IU Bloomington

#12

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#22 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Physics Report

#10 in overall quality

Illinois Institute of Technology ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois Tech is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Institute of Technology are $30,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Illinois Institute of Technology Physics Report

#20 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 4 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UC also took the #20 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#15

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at Michigan State

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Ohio State University - Main Campus is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Ohio State also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ohio State Physics Report

#17 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 2 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also took the #17 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#18

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#23 in overall quality

Wayne State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Wayne State also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Wayne State University Physics Report

#19

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 39 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U-M Physics Report

#11 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Case Western Reserve University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 5 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Case Western, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western Reserve University are $47,958, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at Case Western

#21

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree physics students list, Notre Dame has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522.

Read full report on Physics at University of Notre Dame

#22

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Northwestern University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #2 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at Northwestern

#23

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

University of Chicago came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 23 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at UChicago

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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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