The physics program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Physics Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Physics Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best school in the country for a degree in physics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 95 physics students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physics program at Stanford University
Georgetown University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #2 spot this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 physics students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
More information about a degree in physics from Georgetown University
Northwestern University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 physics students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $78,551 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physics from Northwestern University
A rank of #4 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for physics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 114 physics students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $95,207 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for physics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 75 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $74,352 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
See the full physics program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Rice University landed the #6 spot for physics this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 64 physics degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
Read more about the physics program at Rice University
Washington University In St Louis ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 48 physics degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $68,303 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
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Brown University earned the #8 position for physics this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. Brown University awarded about 96 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $62,820 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physics from Brown University
Duke University landed the #9 spot for physics this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 72 physics students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $83,388 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
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Yale University landed the #10 spot for physics this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 103 physics students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $74,578 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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Boston College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston College awarded about 27 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Boston College earn around $66,132 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,101.
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Princeton University placed #12 among the best physics schools. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Princeton University awarded about 93 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
Read more about the physics program at Princeton University
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 12 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
More information about a degree in physics from University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Tufts University came in at #14 for physics this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tufts University awarded about 27 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree.
See the full physics program report for Tufts University
University Of California Berkeley ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 171 physics degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Physics graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $78,272 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,508 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physics from University Of California Berkeley
Johns Hopkins University landed the #16 spot for physics this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 127 physics students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $84,850 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago came in at #17 for physics this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 126 physics degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Read more about the physics program at University Of Chicago
Middlebury College came in at #18 for physics this year. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 14 physics degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from Middlebury College earn around $54,713 in the first couple years of their career. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physics from Middlebury College
Bowdoin College placed #19 among the best physics schools. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 physics degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Physics graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $58,938 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete this degree.
See the full physics program report for Bowdoin College
Colgate University earned the #20 position for physics this year. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 13 physics degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $52,924 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 96 physics degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $50,933. Students borrow a median of $15,961 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station came in at #22 for physics this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 72 physics students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $53,329 in their early career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $17,522 in student loans.
See the full physics program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #23 spot for physics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 53 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $89,327 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physics from Carnegie Mellon University
Pepperdine University earned the #24 position for physics this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. Pepperdine University awarded about 11 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $57,582. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $23,645 in student loans.
See the full physics program report for Pepperdine University
Harvey Mudd College came in at #25 for physics this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Harvey Mudd College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvey Mudd College awarded about 18 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Harvey Mudd College earn a median of $130,443 early in their careers. Harvey Mudd College graduates carry a median of $22,730 in student loans.
See the full physics program report for Harvey Mudd College
Rest of the Top 50 Physics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s physics ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 268 schools evaluated.
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).
