2027 Best Physical Sciences Schools in Illinois
Physical Sciences 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools to find the best for physical sciences students.
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Best Schools for Physical Sciences in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physical sciences education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Physical Sciences
Northwestern University tops our 2027 ranking of the best physical sciences schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 121 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Northwestern University earn around $90,302 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Northwestern University
University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 316 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of Chicago
Bradley University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best physical sciences schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong physical sciences program will find one at Illinois Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 50 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Illinois Institute Of Technology
Students looking for a strong physical sciences program will find one at Wheaton College Illinois, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wheaton. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Wheaton College Illinois earn around $43,654 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,292.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Wheaton College Illinois
Loyola University Chicago came in at #6 for physical sciences this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 33 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #7 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 372 physical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $73,425 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,597.
Read more about the physical sciences program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Augustana College Illinois landed the #8 spot for physical sciences this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rock Island. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 15 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Augustana College Illinois in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Augustana College Illinois earn around $39,096 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,764 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for Augustana College Illinois
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #9 for physical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 50 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $46,659. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #10 among the best physical sciences schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 128 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $37,280 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,482 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Lewis University placed #11 among the best physical sciences schools. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 21 physical sciences degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $55,718 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,781 to complete this degree.
See the full physical sciences program report for Lewis University
Northern Illinois University earned the #12 position for physical sciences this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 89 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical sciences degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $43,061 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,537 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Northern Illinois University
Columbia College Chicago landed the #13 spot for physical sciences this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 45 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Chicago in the most recent data year. Physical Sciences graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $29,160 early in their careers. Columbia College Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,557 in student loans.
Read more about the physical sciences program at Columbia College Chicago
Illinois State University placed #14 among the best physical sciences schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 56 physical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical sciences degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $49,660. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical sciences from Illinois State University
Western Illinois University earned the #15 position for physical sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Macomb. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 physical sciences students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical sciences program make about $31,980 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full physical sciences details for Western Illinois University
More Physical Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 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.