2027 Best Physics Schools in Iowa
Physics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best physics schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Physics in Iowa
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.
Top Schools in Physics
Grinnell College tops our 2027 ranking of the best physics schools. Set in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 20 physics degrees were awarded at Grinnell College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Grinnell College generally make around $38,888. Grinnell College graduates carry a median of $17,154 in student loans.
See the full physics program report for Grinnell College
Iowa State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physics, ranking #2. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 33 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $54,204 early in their careers. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $23,496 in student loans.
See the full physics program report for Iowa State University
University Of Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physics, ranking #3. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete this degree.
See the full physics program report for University Of Iowa
Coe College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best physics schools. Coe College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Coe College graduates 66% of students within six years. Coe College awarded about 13 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $44,511 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physics program at Coe College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 4 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.
