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2024 Best Physics Schools

220 Colleges in the United States
13,674 Physics Degrees Awarded
$42,960 Avg Early-Career Salary
A degree in physics is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #68 out of 395 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. As a result, there are many college that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.

In 2024, College Factual analyzed 220 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Physics Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 13,674 degrees in physics during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Physics School

Best Physics Schools Your choice of physics school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Physics School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Physics Rankings by Degree Level

Bachelor's Degrees in Physics
Master's Degrees in Physics
Doctor's Degrees in Physics

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 the Best Physics Schools. If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.

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.

If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.

Best Schools for Physics in the United States

The schools below may not offer all types of physics degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools in Physics

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
8th Most Popular In CA
85 Physics Degrees Awarded

Any student who is interested in physics needs to take a look at Stanford University. Stanford is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Stanford. A Best Colleges rank of #3 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Stanford is a great university overall.

There were about 85 physics students who graduated with this degree at Stanford in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in physics from Stanford University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
102 Physics Degrees Awarded
$52,578 Median Starting Salary

Any student pursuing a degree in physics has to check out University of Chicago. Located in the city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #2 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UChicago is a great university overall.

There were about 102 physics students who graduated with this degree at UChicago in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the physics major at University of Chicago make $9,618 more than the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Chicago

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In IL
47 Physics Degrees Awarded

Every student who is interested in physics needs to look into Northwestern University. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. A Best Colleges rank of #5 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Northwestern is a great university overall.

There were approximately 47 physics students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in physics from Northwestern University

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
162 Physics Degrees Awarded
2.5% Growth in Graduates

Every student who is interested in physics needs to check out University of Arizona. Located in the large city of Tucson, University of Arizona is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 26 schools for overall quality in the state of Arizona.

There were approximately 162 physics students who graduated with this degree at University of Arizona in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physics major at University of Arizona get $51,051 above the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Arizona

5
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
118 Physics Degrees Awarded
8.5% Growth in Graduates

U-M is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor. A Best Colleges rank of #29 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means U-M is a great university overall.

There were approximately 118 physics students who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, physics degree recipients typically make an average of $42,728 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In MD
60 Physics Degrees Awarded

Johns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Baltimore. A Best Colleges rank of #23 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Johns Hopkins is a great university overall.

There were about 60 physics students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in physics from Johns Hopkins University

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
96 Physics Degrees Awarded
$38,630 Median Starting Salary

Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Ithaca. A Best Colleges rank of #22 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall.

There were about 96 physics students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, physics degree recipients usually earn around $38,630 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in physics from Cornell University

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
123 Physics Degrees Awarded
14.6% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #26 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UCLA is a great university overall.

There were approximately 123 physics students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the physics program make an average of $42,865 for their early career.

More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Los Angeles

9
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
199 Physics Degrees Awarded
$49,863 Median Starting Salary

Located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 10th out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.

There were approximately 199 physics students who graduated with this degree at UCSB in the most recent year we have data available. Physics degree recipients from University of California - Santa Barbara receive an earnings boost of around $6,903 above the typical income of physics majors.

More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Santa Barbara

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
197 Physics Degrees Awarded
$59,702 Median Starting Salary

UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the city of Berkeley. A Best Colleges rank of #18 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.

There were about 197 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the physics major at University of California - Berkeley earn $16,742 above the typical college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Berkeley

11
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
94 Physics Degrees Awarded
16.0% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 52 colleges for overall quality in the state of Minnesota.

There were roughly 94 physics students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent year we have data available. Physics degree recipients from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities get an earnings boost of around $12,367 over the average income of physics majors.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

12
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
144 Physics Degrees Awarded
18.1% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #30 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UW - Madison is a great university overall.

There were roughly 144 physics students who graduated with this degree at UW - Madison in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the physics degree program at University of Wisconsin - Madison make $2,956 more than the typical college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Wisconsin - Madison

13
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
82 Physics Degrees Awarded
$41,524 Median Starting Salary

UCSD is a fairly large public university located in the city of La Jolla. This university ranks 8th out of 168 schools for overall quality in the state of California.

There were approximately 82 physics students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the physics program report average early career wages of $41,524.

More information about a degree in physics from University of California - San Diego

14
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
106 Physics Degrees Awarded
$47,882 Median Starting Salary

Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #34 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UIUC is a great university overall.

There were approximately 106 physics students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the physics major at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign get $4,922 more than the typical graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

15
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In IN
59 Physics Degrees Awarded

Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #20 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Notre Dame is a great university overall.

There were approximately 59 physics students who graduated with this degree at Notre Dame in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Notre Dame

16
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
109 Physics Degrees Awarded
$48,534 Median Starting Salary

UMCP is a fairly large public university located in the large suburb of College Park. This university ranks 2nd out of 36 schools for overall quality in the state of Maryland.

There were roughly 109 physics students who graduated with this degree at UMCP in the most recent year we have data available. Those physics students who get their degree from University of Maryland - College Park earn $5,574 more than the standard physics student.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Maryland - College Park

17
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
75 Physics Degrees Awarded
$55,521 Median Starting Salary

Located in the suburb of Amherst, UMass Amherst is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 11th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 75 physics students who graduated with this degree at UMass Amherst in the most recent year we have data available. Those physics students who get their degree from University of Massachusetts Amherst receive $12,561 more than the average physics grad.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Massachusetts Amherst

18
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
114 Physics Degrees Awarded
$62,196 Median Starting Salary

Ohio State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Columbus. This university ranks 2nd out of 96 schools for overall quality in the state of Ohio.

There were approximately 114 physics students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State in the most recent year we have data available. Those physics students who get their degree from Ohio State University - Main Campus earn $19,236 more than the standard physics graduate.

More information about a degree in physics from Ohio State University - Main Campus

19
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
122 Physics Degrees Awarded
29.5% Growth in Graduates

UC Irvine is a very large public university located in the large city of Irvine. This university ranks 15th out of 168 schools for overall quality in the state of California.

There were roughly 121.99999999999999 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Irvine in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the physics program state that they receive average early career earnings of $33,381.

More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Irvine

20
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
118 Physics Degrees Awarded
30.5% Growth in Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Rochester, University of Rochester is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. This university ranks 8th out of 142 schools for overall quality in the state of New York.

There were approximately 118 physics students who graduated with this degree at University of Rochester in the most recent data year. Those physics students who get their degree from University of Rochester receive $46,817 more than the typical physics graduate.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Rochester

21
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
111 Physics Degrees Awarded
$42,452 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Austin, UT Austin is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 115 colleges for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were roughly 111 physics students who graduated with this degree at UT Austin in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the physics program make around $42,452 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in physics from The University of Texas at Austin

22
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
262 Physics Degrees Awarded
7.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 51 schools for overall quality in the state of Washington.

There were about 262 physics students who graduated with this degree at UW Seattle in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the physics program make around $38,470 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

23
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
6th Most Popular In MA
34 Physics Degrees Awarded

Northeastern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Boston. This university ranks 7th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 34 physics students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from Northeastern University

24
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
57 Physics Degrees Awarded
$43,015 Median Starting Salary

UNC Chapel Hill is a fairly large public university located in the city of Chapel Hill. This university ranks 2nd out of 93 colleges for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.

There were roughly 57 physics students who graduated with this degree at UNC Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the physics program earn about $43,015 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in physics from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

25
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
130 Physics Degrees Awarded
$33,529 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #27 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means NYU is a great university overall.

There were about 130 physics students who graduated with this degree at NYU in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the physics program earn around $33,529 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in physics from New York University

Rest of the Top Best Physics Schools

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Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Physics Schools award.

Rank College Location
34 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
35 Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL
36 University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO
37 Brigham Young University - Provo Provo, UT
38 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY
39 University of Delaware Newark, DE
40 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
41 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
42 William & Mary Williamsburg, VA
43 University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MA
44 Emory University Atlanta, GA

Physics by Region

View the Best Physics Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

Physics is one of 8 different types of Physical Sciences programs to choose from.

Physics Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Physics 12,875
Other Physics 467
Optics/Optical Sciences 196
Acoustics 96
Theoretical & Mathematical Physics 19
Condensed Matter & Materials Physics 8
Atomic/Molecular Physics 7
Elementary Particle Physics 3
Nuclear Physics 3

View All Physics Concentrations >

Majors Similar to Physics

Related Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 21,239
Geological & Earth Sciences 7,821
General Physical Sciences 3,823
Astronomy & Astrophysics 1,375
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 1,140
Materials Sciences 658
Other Physical Science 538
Physics and Astronomy 38

View All Physics Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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