2027 Best Value Physics Schools in the New England Region
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physics education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value physics schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Physics Schools in the New England Region
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 Bowdoin College, our #1 best value for physics in the New England Region. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Students from in state pay about $67,832 in tuition and fees. Physics graduates carry a median of $20,658 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. Set against $20,658 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 7%.
Colby College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,600. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $22,016. Physics graduates of Colby College earn a median of $46,772 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Massachusetts Lowell one of the best values for physics. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,177 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $48,324 early in their careers. Set against $22,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
Harvard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $16,616. Physics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Bridgewater State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,734, while out-of-state students pay about $17,874. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $26,632. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $48,937. That is a strong return on a $26,632 median debt. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Physics graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $54,773. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
Yale University came in at #7 for value in physics this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Physics graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $74,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #8 position for value in physics this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $27,000. Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,666 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Brown University earned the #9 position for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Physics graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $62,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University earned the #10 position for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Physics graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Connecticut placed #11 among the best values for physics. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $26,324. Early-career physics graduates make about $32,341. Set against $26,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College landed the #12 spot for physics value this year. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. In-state tuition and fees average $67,176. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $11,075. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Wellesley College generally make around $48,902. That is a strong return on a $11,075 median debt. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
Smith College placed #13 among the best values for physics. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. In-state tuition and fees average $65,178. Physics graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $40,436. Set against $18,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Bates College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,590 in tuition and fees. Physics graduates carry a median of $12,226 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $43,933. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College placed #15 among the best values for physics. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Students from in state pay about $67,600 in tuition and fees. Physics graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $54,713. Set against $15,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Northeastern University earned the #16 position for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,162. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $26,797. Physics graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $49,399 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,797 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Brandeis University earned the #17 position for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,080 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $25,653. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $47,783. Set against $25,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brandeis University admits about 40% of applicants.
College Of The Holy Cross ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value physics schools. College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Students from in state pay about $64,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,387 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $51,478. Set against $26,387 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 18%.
Tufts University earned the #19 position for value in physics this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $17,074. Physics graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Set against $17,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
Boston College earned the #20 position for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,702. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of Boston College earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,101 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #21 spot for physics value this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $60,765. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute generally make around $91,834. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Physics Schools by State
View All Physics Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
