College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Popular Colleges for Physics in the Great Lakes Region

142 Ranked Colleges
1,760 Degrees Awarded
$32,900 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region

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 the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

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 Great Lakes region, there were 1,760 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,251 and $23,230 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 142 colleges that offer a degree in physics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular physics programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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

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 in the Great Lakes Region” 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 in the Great Lakes Region

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

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 144 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 more about Physics at UW - Madison

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 118 ’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 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%.

Read full report on Physics at U-M

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 114 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Read full report on Physics at Ohio State

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 106 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at UIUC

5
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 102 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. 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.

Full University of Chicago Physics Report

6
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 78 ’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 2.6% 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%.

Read full report on Physics at Michigan State

6
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 78 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Purdue University - Main Campus

8
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 59 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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.

Full University of Notre Dame Physics Report

9
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 47 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Northwestern University Physics Report

10

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. IU Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 40 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, 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 91%.

Read more about Physics at IU Bloomington

11

Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 35 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, 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 93%.

Read full report on Physics at Case Western Reserve University

12

With a ranking of #12, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Toledo, Ohio, and it awarded 27 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Full University of Toledo Physics Report

12

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 27 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Physics at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

14

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Physics Report

14

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 26 students 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%.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Physics Report

16

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 27 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at UW - Eau Claire

16

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Kent State is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 25 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physics at Kent State University at Kent

18
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Wayne State University is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Physics at Wayne State University

19

Illinois State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified ’s physics 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%.

Read full report on Physics at Illinois State

20

With a ranking of #20, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

Full OHIO Athens Physics Report

20
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Loyola Chicago Physics Report

22
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 20 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Physics at WMU

23

Michigan Technological University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 18 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.

Read more about Physics at Michigan Tech

23

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Wisconsin - River Falls

25
Oberlin crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oberlin College is a small school located in Oberlin, Ohio that handed out 17 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Oberlin College Physics Report

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