College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Colleges for Physics in the Plains States Region

14 Ranked Colleges
711 Degrees Awarded
$20,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 13,674 people earned their degree in physics, making the major the 68th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, physics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $42,960 and had an average of $22,756 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 711 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $55,327 and $23,299 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great physics programs and 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Physics Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Physics Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region.

Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Physics in the Plains States Region

1

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.

Iowa State also took the #2 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $16,002 for plains states region physics students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Physics at Iowa State

2

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #2 spot on the list. Missouri State is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 10 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for Plains States Region Physics students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Missouri State

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for plains states region physics students.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 13 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth also took the #7 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $18,505 for plains states region physics students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at University of Minnesota - Duluth

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wichita State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

WSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $14,859 for Plains States Region Physics students.

Read more about Physics at Wichita State University

6

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $16,559 for plains states region physics students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Mizzou Physics Report

7
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region physics students list, Winona State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $17,634 for plains states region physics students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Winona State University

8
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school handed out 25 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

KU also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $20,257 for plains states region physics students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at KU

9
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Iowa also took the #4 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $19,401 for Plains States Region Physics students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Iowa Physics Report

10

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 11 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

UMKC also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $15,702 for plains states region physics students per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UMKC Physics Report

11
Creighton crest
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska

With a ranking of #11, Creighton University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region list. Creighton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 14 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Creighton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Creighton University is $31,218 for Plains States Region Physics students.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Creighton Physics Report

12
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

St. Olaf also took the #3 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Olaf is $24,052 for Plains States Region Physics students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at St Olaf College

13
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 7 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Gustavus Adolphus also took the #12 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $24,696 for plains states region physics students per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus College Physics Report

14
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

Carleton College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Carleton College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 19 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Carleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $28,928 for plains states region physics students per year to attend Carleton.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Physics at Carleton

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options