2026 Best Value Theoretical & Mathematical Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Theoretical & Mathematical Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/theoretical-and-mathematical-physics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong theoretical & mathematical physics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for theoretical & mathematical physics students.
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2026 Best Value Theoretical & Mathematical Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theoretical & mathematical physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theoretical & Mathematical Physics Schools
For return on investment in theoretical & mathematical physics, no school beat Indiana University Bloomington this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for theoretical & mathematical physics graduates is $25,687. Theoretical & Mathematical Physics graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,687 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Loyola University Chicago earned it the #2 place for theoretical & mathematical physics. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theoretical & mathematical physics graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, theoretical & mathematical physics degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Students looking for strong value in theoretical & mathematical physics will find it at Case Western Reserve University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Theoretical & Mathematical Physics graduates carry a median of $25,292 in student loans. Theoretical & Mathematical Physics graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. Set against $25,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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.
