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2024 Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region

52 Colleges in the Southeast Region
2,030 Physics Degrees Awarded
$38,858 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.

College Factual looked at 52 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 2,030 degrees in physics to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Physics School

Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region The physics program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Physics rankings. 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.

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.

Pick Your Physics 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 in the Southeast Region. 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 Southeast Region

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.

10 Top Southeast Region Schools in Physics

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
57 Physics Degrees Awarded
$43,015 Median Starting Salary

It's hard to beat University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill if you want to pursue a degree in physics. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #43 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UNC Chapel Hill is a great university overall.

There were about 57 physics students who graduated with this degree at UNC Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physics program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill get $4,157 above the standard college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

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

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

It's difficult to beat University of Virginia - Main Campus if you wish to pursue a degree in physics. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #33 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means University of Virginia is a great university overall.

There were about 59 physics students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Virginia - Main Campus

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
60 Physics Degrees Awarded
$34,598 Median Starting Salary

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is a wonderful option for students interested in a degree in physics. Georgia Tech is a very large public school located in the large city of Atlanta. A Best Colleges rank of #24 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Georgia Tech is a great school overall.

There were about 60 physics students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Tech in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the physics program make an average of $34,598 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in physics from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

4
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In VA
62 Physics Degrees Awarded

Every student pursuing a degree in physics has to look into Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech is a fairly large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. A Best Colleges rank of #62 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Virginia Tech is a great school overall.

There were about 62 physics students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Tech in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in physics from Virginia Tech

5
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In VA
38 Physics Degrees Awarded

William & Mary is a moderately-sized public school located in the small suburb of Williamsburg. A Best Colleges rank of #111 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means William & Mary is a great school overall.

There were roughly 38 physics students who graduated with this degree at William & Mary in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in physics from William & Mary

6
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In GA

Emory is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Atlanta. A Best Colleges rank of #28 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Emory is a great university overall.

There were approximately 24 physics students who graduated with this degree at Emory in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from Emory University

7
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
6th Most Popular In NC
41.2% Growth in Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #128 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Wake Forest University is a great university overall.

There were approximately 17 physics students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in physics from Wake Forest University

8
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
62 Physics Degrees Awarded
$36,649 Median Starting Salary

Florida State is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee. A Best Colleges rank of #121 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Florida State is a great university overall.

There were roughly 62 physics students who graduated with this degree at Florida State in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, physics degree recipients usually earn around $36,649 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in physics from Florida State University

9
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
58 Physics Degrees Awarded
$18,888 Median Starting Salary

UF is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Gainesville. A Best Colleges rank of #58 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UF is a great university overall.

There were about 58 physics students who graduated with this degree at UF in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the physics program make an average of $18,888 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in physics from University of Florida

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
60 Physics Degrees Awarded
$34,952 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Raleigh, NC State is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #92 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means NC State is a great university overall.

There were approximately 60 physics students who graduated with this degree at NC State in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, physics degree recipients usually make around $34,952 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in physics from North Carolina State University

Best Physics Colleges by State

Explore the best physics colleges for a specific state in the Southeast Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Georgia 287 244
Florida 282 358
North Carolina 279 356
Virginia 274 352
Tennessee 269 156
South Carolina 248 107
Kentucky 244 77
Louisiana 242 93
Mississippi 234 45
Arkansas 234 80
Alabama 233 117
West Virginia 207 44

View All Rankings >

One of 8 majors within the Physical Sciences area of study, Physics has other similar majors worth exploring.

Physics Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Physics 1,935
Other Physics 81
Optics/Optical Sciences 13
Nuclear Physics 1

View All Physics Focus Areas >

Majors Similar to Physics

Related Major Annual Graduates
Chemistry 5,043
Geological & Earth Sciences 1,540
General Physical Sciences 239
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology 205
Other Physical Science 155
Astronomy & Astrophysics 131
Materials Sciences 39
Physics and Astronomy 38

View All Physics Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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