2027 Best Physics Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Physics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their physics programs.
College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best physics schools.
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Best Schools for Physics in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physics education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Physics
No school ranked higher than Georgetown University this year for physics. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 24 physics students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Georgetown University earn around $79,632 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 75 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $74,352 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Princeton University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 93 physics students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physics, ranking #4. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 127 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $84,850 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong physics program will find one at Colgate University, which ranked #5. Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hamilton. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Colgate University awarded about 13 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University came in at #6 for physics this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 96 physics degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Physics graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $50,933 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,961.
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Carnegie Mellon University came in at #7 for physics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 53 physics students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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American University earned the #8 position for physics this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 physics students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from American University earn around $54,585 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #9 for physics this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 74 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $56,926 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,958.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #10 for physics this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 physics students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park placed #11 among the best physics schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 115 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $39,825 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,194 in student loans.
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Haverford College landed the #12 spot for physics this year. Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Haverford. Haverford College graduates 90% of students within six years. About 14 physics degrees were awarded at Haverford College in the most recent year.
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The College Of New Jersey placed #13 among the best physics schools. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 15 physics degrees were awarded at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $56,617 in their early career. The College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,429 in student loans.
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University Of Rochester placed #14 among the best physics schools. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 147 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $60,865. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Le Moyne College came in at #15 for physics this year. Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 11 physics students who graduated with this degree at Le Moyne College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $57,229 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,739.
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Stony Brook University placed #16 among the best physics schools. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 145 physics students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $44,562. Students borrow a median of $21,683 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore County placed #17 among the best physics schools. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Maryland Baltimore County awarded about 36 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $49,179 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,331 to complete this degree.
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #18 among the best physics schools. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awarded about 52 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $60,348 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,270 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. About 31 physics degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Physics graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree.
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University At Buffalo earned the #20 position for physics this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 37 physics students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans.
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Seton Hall University placed #21 among the best physics schools. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 17 physics students who graduated with this degree at Seton Hall University in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $63,871 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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Catholic University Of America came in at #22 for physics this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Catholic University Of America graduates 80% of students within six years. About 18 physics degrees were awarded at Catholic University Of America in the most recent year. Physics graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $65,120 early in their careers. Catholic University Of America graduates carry a median of $25,771 in student loans.
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Temple University landed the #23 spot for physics this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 physics degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from Temple University earn around $54,642 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete this degree.
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Syracuse University placed #24 among the best physics schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 36 physics students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans.
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Suny At Binghamton came in at #25 for physics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 17 physics students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,766. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 35 Physics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for physics this year:
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Notes and References
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 · 35 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.