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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Physical Sciences in the Great Lakes Region

214 Ranked Colleges
6,421 Degrees Awarded
$31,700 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

Physical Sciences is the 19th most popular major in the country with 50,306 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $39,880 and had an average of $22,620 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,421 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,323 and $23,308 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 214 colleges that offered a degree in physical sciences. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in physical sciences.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The physical sciences 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 “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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.

Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 401 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UW - Madison Physical Sciences Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 375 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3

Out of the 214 schools in the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 347 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at U-M

4
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 317 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Chicago

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 310 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Ohio State University - Main Campus

6
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

With a ranking of #6, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 274 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Physical Sciences Report

7
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 233 degrees to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Michigan State University

8

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 155 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Ohio University - Athens Campus

9

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 154 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at IU Bloomington

10
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 146 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Northwestern University

11
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Wayne State is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 128 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Wayne State

12

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 114 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at UC

13

University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. University of Akron Main Campus is a public institution located in Akron, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 111 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Physical Sciences Report

14

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 103 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at UIC

15

Kent State University at Kent landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school handed out 100 degrees to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

Full Kent State University at Kent Physical Sciences Report

16
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 99 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Notre Dame

17

Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 95 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Case Western

18

Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 91 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Miami University - Oxford

19

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 79 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

20
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 79 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Full WMU Physical Sciences Report

21

Northern Illinois University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Northern Illinois University

22

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

23

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 70 diplomas to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UW - Eau Claire

24

With a ranking of #24, Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 66 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

25

With a ranking of #25, Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 64 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Wright State University - Main Campus

Rest of the Best 33 in Most Well Attended Physical Sciences Major in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 33 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
K College crest
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, Michigan
28
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
29
30
31
31
33

Notes and References

References

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