Best Schools for Physics in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physics education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Physics
Our analysis ranked University Of Southern California the best school in the country for a degree in physics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 34 physics degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 84 physics degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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A rank of #3 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for physics. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 31 physics degrees in the most recent data year.
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University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 213 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $53,597 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,982.
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Harvey Mudd College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Harvey Mudd College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 physics students who graduated with this degree at Harvey Mudd College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Harvey Mudd College generally make around $130,443. Typical student debt for the program is $22,730.
See the full physics program report for Harvey Mudd College
University Of California Berkeley earned the #6 position for physics this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 146 physics degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $78,272. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,508 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University placed #7 among the best physics schools. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 physics degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $57,582. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physics from Pepperdine University
Pomona College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 physics students who graduated with this degree at Pomona College in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Pomona College earn a median of $75,954 early in their careers.
More information about a degree in physics from Pomona College
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #9 spot for physics this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 147 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $88,623 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,100.
Read more about the physics program at University Of California Los Angeles
California Institute Of Technology landed the #10 spot for physics this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 58 physics degrees were awarded at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from California Institute Of Technology generally make around $173,344.
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University Of California Davis ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 75 physics degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from University Of California Davis earn around $53,749 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $16,464 in student loans.
See the full physics program report for University Of California Davis
University Of California Irvine earned the #12 position for physics this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 94 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $43,144 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
See the full physics program report for University Of California Irvine
University Of California San Diego came in at #13 for physics this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 115 physics degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $68,987 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,800.
More information about a degree in physics from University Of California San Diego
California State University Fullerton landed the #14 spot for physics this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 14 physics students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
See the full physics program report for California State University Fullerton
University Of San Francisco ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 10 physics degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $65,223 in their early career. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans.
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San Francisco State University landed the #16 spot for physics this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 31 physics degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $50,955. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans.
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California State University Sacramento ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 physics students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $49,907 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete this degree.
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University Of Redlands landed the #18 spot for physics this year. Set in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Redlands awarded about 10 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from University Of Redlands earn around $57,218 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,175.
See the full physics program report for University Of Redlands
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #19 position for physics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 physics students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
Read more about the physics program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
College Of The Canyons ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. About 32 physics degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $51,913 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
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San Diego State University came in at #21 for physics this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 28 physics degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $51,162 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Marcos came in at #22 for physics this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. California State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 physics students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $56,018 in their early career. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $19,069 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #23 spot for physics this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 126 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $41,474 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,113 to complete this degree.
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Reed College earned the #24 position for physics this year. Reed College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Reed College graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 physics students who graduated with this degree at Reed College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Reed College earn around $30,588 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,137 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Merced came in at #25 for physics this year. Set in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Merced in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of University Of California Merced earn a median of $42,071 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,318 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Physics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s physics ranking:
Narrow Physics Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 181 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
