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2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois

32 Ranked Colleges
483 Degrees Awarded
$30,100 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Illinois” 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 Illinois, there were 483 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,413 and $21,886 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois” ranking looked at 32 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.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois physics students.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 106 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Physics Report

2
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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 #2 for the Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 102 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 UChicago Physics Report

3
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Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

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

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 26 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read more about Physics at University of Illinois at Chicago

5
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Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois. Illinois State University is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Illinois State University

6
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Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 21 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Physics at Loyola University Chicago

7
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Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, Lewis University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois list. Lewis University is located in Romeoville, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Lewis University

7

Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Illinois Institute of Technology Physics Report

9
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Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton College Illinois ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois list. Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wheaton, Illinois. It awarded 13 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Physics Report

10

Western Illinois University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 12 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Full WIU Physics Report

11
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking. Knox College is a small school located in Galesburg, Illinois that handed out 11 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.

Full Knox Physics Report

12
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Physics at DePaul University

12

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 9 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Full NIU Physics Report

14
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Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Elmhurst

15

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #15. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 7 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Full SIUC Physics Report

15
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Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Monmouth College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois list. Located in Monmouth, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 more about Physics at Monmouth

15
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Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Columbia College Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois list. Columbia is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Physics at Columbia

18
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 6 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Full EIU Physics Report

18
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Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Bloomington, Illinois, and it awarded 6 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.

Read full report on Physics at Illinois Wesleyan University

20
Greenville crest
Greenville University
Greenville, Illinois

Greenville University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. Greenville is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greenville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 4.9% 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 Greenville Physics Report

20
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North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. North Central is located in Naperville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at North Central College

22
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Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #22, Lake Forest College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois list. Lake Forest is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lake Forest, Illinois. It awarded 4 ’s physics degrees 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%.

Read more about Physics at Lake Forest College

23
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Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #23. Rock Island, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, 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 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at Augustana

23
Illinois College crest
Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking. Jacksonville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

Full Illinois College Physics Report

23

Northeastern Illinois University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Physics at Northeastern Illinois University

23
CSU crest
Chicago State University
Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #23. Chicago State University is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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.

Full CSU Physics Report

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