2027 Best Value Physics Master’s Degree Schools
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 76 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physics students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Physics Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physics Schools
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 best value for physics in the United States. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Los Angeles earned it the #2 place for physics. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $14,430. Early-career physics graduates make about $48,403. That is a strong return on a $14,430 median debt. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Florida came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $13,750. Physics graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $15,525. Early-career physics graduates make about $54,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Florida International University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $52,517. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #6 for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #7 for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $21,100. Physics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $88,623 early in their careers. Set against $21,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
California State University Long Beach ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Physics graduates carry a median of $23,229 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $42,057. Set against $23,229 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University came in at #9 for value in physics this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Stanford University came in at #10 for value in physics this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus landed the #11 spot for physics value this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $21,831. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. That is a strong return on a $21,831 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $15,508 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $78,272. That is a strong return on a $15,508 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Physics graduates carry a median of $23,146 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $56,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #14 spot for physics value this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $17,113. Early-career physics graduates make about $41,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine landed the #15 spot for physics value this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $15,000. Physics graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $43,144 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #16 position for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $22,250. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $74,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of Chicago landed the #17 spot for physics value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Physics graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University placed #18 among the best values for physics. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $26,689. Physics graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $55,469 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #19 position for value in physics this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $77,211 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis earned the #20 position for value in physics this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $16,464. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Houston landed the #21 spot for physics value this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Physics graduates carry a median of $25,925 in student loans. Physics graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. Set against $25,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #22 position for value in physics this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $21,948. Early-career physics graduates make about $30,203. That is a strong return on a $21,948 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Physics graduates carry a median of $15,982 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $53,597. That is a strong return on a $15,982 median debt. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
California Institute Of Technology earned the #24 position for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,898. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from California Institute Of Technology generally make around $173,344. California Institute Of Technology admits about 3% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #25 for value in physics this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Physics graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $68,664. That is a strong return on a $12,184 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Physics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s physics value ranking:
Other Physics Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Physics rankings across degree levels:
View All Physics Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 76 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 76 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
