2027 Best Value Physics Schools in Texas
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for physics students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Physics Schools in Texas
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
For return on investment in physics, no school beat Austin Community College District this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in physics will find it at Rice University, which ranked #2. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Physics graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Students looking for strong value in physics will find it at The University Of Texas At El Paso, which ranked #3. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $19,819. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $48,335. That is a strong return on a $19,819 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned it the #4 place for physics. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Students borrow a median of $27,508 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $36,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,508 median debt. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physics will find it at Texas A And M University Commerce, which ranked #5. Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public school located in the town of Commerce. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,026, with out-of-state students paying around $22,326. Physics graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $65,563. Set against $23,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Houston landed the #6 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. That is a strong return on a $25,925 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #7 for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. Physics graduates carry a median of $22,314 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $34,611. Set against $22,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas earned the #8 position for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Physics graduates carry a median of $21,200 in student loans. Physics graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $49,157 early in their careers. Set against $21,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #9 spot for physics value this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Physics graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $41,737. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #10 spot for physics value this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Physics graduates carry a median of $23,875 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $58,507. Set against $23,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
Texas Tech University placed #11 among the best values for physics. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $57,435 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #12 among the best values for physics. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $20,333 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $36,832. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #13 spot for physics value this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Physics graduates carry a median of $17,522 in student loans. Physics graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $53,329 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,522 median debt. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
