2023 Most Popular Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics
191
Ranked Colleges
1,752
Degrees Awarded
$81,190
Avg Salary
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate” 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.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,752 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,260 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate” ranking looked at 191 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular physics programs in the United States.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Physics Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate”.
Top 28 Most Popular Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics
Out of the 191 schools in the Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #1 spot on the list. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Physics at Harvard
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Stanford Physics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 39 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of California - Berkeley Physics Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 37 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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 MIT Physics Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Arizona. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 36 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Arizona Physics Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.
Read more about Physics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Colorado Boulder came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Boulder, Colorado, this large public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Physics at University of Colorado Boulder
With a ranking of #8, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 University of Washington - Seattle Campus Physics Report
With a ranking of #9, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Physics at U-M
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Physics at UW - Madison
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, 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%.
Read more about Physics at Ohio State
University of Maryland - College Park ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. Located in College Park, Maryland, this large public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Physics at UMCP
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 23 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read full report on Physics at UCLA
Michigan State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 23 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Physics at Michigan State University
University of Rochester came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. This fairly large school is located in Rochester, New York, and it awarded 22 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, 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 92%.
Read full report on Physics at University of Rochester
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Physics at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of California - San Diego landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 21 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Physics at University of California - San Diego
With a ranking of #17, Rice University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. Rice University is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 21 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Physics at Rice University
California Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #17. California Institute of Technology is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 21 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full Caltech Physics Report
Duke University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. Duke University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 20 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Physics at Duke University
Cornell University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. Cornell is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 20 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Physics at Cornell University
Yale University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. This fairly large school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 20 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at Yale University
University of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #23. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, 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 100%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Physics at University of Chicago
Florida State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #24. Florida State is a large public school situated in Tallahassee, Florida. It awarded 18 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at Florida State
Stony Brook University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #24. SUNY Stony Brook is a large public school situated in Stony Brook, New York. It awarded 18 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physics at SUNY Stony Brook
With a ranking of #24, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate list. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Physics at UCR
University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #24. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Read full report on Physics at Notre Dame
Princeton University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate ranking. Princeton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Princeton, New Jersey. It awarded 18 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Read full report on Physics at Princeton
Rest of the Best 32 in Most Well Attended Physics Major for a Doctorate
Not only did these schools make the top 32 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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