2026 Best Physics Schools in Missouri
Physics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for physics students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Physics in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physics education in Missouri.
Top Schools in Physics
No school ranked higher than Washington University In St Louis this year for physics. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 physics degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $68,303 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physics program at Washington University In St Louis
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the top schools for physics. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $53,134 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,005 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physics program at University Of Missouri Columbia
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 24 physics students who graduated with this degree at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $74,532 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,187.
Get the full physics details for Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Missouri State University Springfield is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #4 spot this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 physics degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $46,503 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,408.
More information about a degree in physics from Missouri State University Springfield
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 20 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.
