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2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California

147 Ranked Colleges
3,224 Degrees Awarded
$36,700 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Physics Major in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended Physics Major in California” ranking.

Physics is the 68th most popular major in the country with 13,674 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 California, there were 3,224 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,268 and $18,506 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Physics Major in California” ranking, we looked at 147 colleges that offer a degree in physics. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in physics.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The physics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Well Attended Physics Major in California”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Well Attended Physics Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Physics Major in California”.

1

Out of the 147 schools in the Most Well Attended Physics Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #1 spot on the list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 199 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Physics at UCSB

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 197 ’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.

Read more about Physics at UC Berkeley

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 123 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, 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%.

Read more about Physics at UCLA

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 122 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Physics at UC Irvine

5
Pasadena City College crest
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pasadena City College. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Physics Major in California. Pasadena City College is a public institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 100 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at Pasadena City College

6

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 95 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Physics Report

7

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 90 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, 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 full report on Physics at UC Davis

8
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

With a ranking of #8, Stanford University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 85 degrees to qualified ’s physics 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Stanford

9

University of California - Riverside landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 83 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.

Full University of California - Riverside Physics Report

10

University of California - San Diego ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 82 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UCSD Physics Report

11
Irvine Valley College crest
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, California

Irvine Valley College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. Irvine Valley College is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 81 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Irvine Valley College Physics Report

12
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, California

With a ranking of #12, Moorpark College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. Moorpark College is located in Moorpark, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 69 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Physics at Moorpark College

13

With a ranking of #13, California Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. Caltech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 52 ’s 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Caltech Physics Report

14
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 Southern California

14
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College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, California

College of the Canyons did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. Santa Clarita, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at College of the Canyons

16

California State University - Long Beach landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 48 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, 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 89%.

Full CSULB Physics Report

17
SBCC crest
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara City College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. Santa Barbara City College is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 45 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Santa Barbara City College Physics Report

18
El Camino College crest
El Camino College
Torrance, California

El Camino College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. Located in Torrance, California, this fairly large public school handed out 44 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Physics at El Camino College

19
Golden West College crest
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, California

Golden West College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. Golden West College is a fairly large public school situated in Huntington Beach, California. It awarded 41 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Golden West College Physics Report

20
Saddleback College crest
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, California

Saddleback College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. Located in Mission Viejo, California, this fairly large public school awarded 37 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

Full Saddleback College Physics Report

20

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 37 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

22

With a ranking of #22, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Physics at California State University - Fullerton

23
Norco College crest
Norco College
Norco, California

Norco College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. Located in Norco, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 34 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at Norco College

24
Chaffey College crest
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Chaffey College ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and it awarded 32 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Chaffey College

25
SCC crest
Santiago Canyon College
Orange, California

Santiago Canyon College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in California ranking. SCC is a public institution located in Orange, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at Santiago Canyon College

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References

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