2027 Best Value Physics Schools in New York
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value physics schools.
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2027 Best Value Physics Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physics Schools
For return on investment in physics, no school beat Stony Brook University this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Students borrow a median of $21,683 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $44,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 49%.
A rank of #2 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the best values for physics. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Physics graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $22,232. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Le Moyne College earned it the #4 place for physics. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,330. Students borrow a median of $25,739 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Le Moyne College generally make around $57,229. Set against $25,739 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Le Moyne College admits about 83% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Physics graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,766. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Cornell University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Physics graduates carry a median of $15,961 in student loans. Physics graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $50,933 early in their careers. Set against $15,961 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Colgate University placed #7 among the best values for physics. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. Students from in state pay about $70,306 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $16,286. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $52,924. That is a strong return on a $16,286 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Rochester came in at #8 for value in physics this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $60,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #9 spot for physics value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $27,000. Early-career physics graduates make about $48,374. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #10 among the best values for physics. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,078. Physics graduates carry a median of $20,270 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $60,348. Set against $20,270 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
New York University landed the #11 spot for physics value this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $34,624. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University landed the #12 spot for physics value this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $26,130. Physics graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,130 median debt. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
