Best Physics colleges in the U.S. 2026
Many people define the study of physics as the study of the entire universe. Imagine understanding the world in all of its complexity and learning all about the elements that blueprint the world as we know it. Pretty cool, right?
Typically, students who study this field continue on to earn their master’s or doctoral degrees and usually pursue careers in research. Research can be found in many areas, such as automotive and aerospace, education, energy, public sector, healthcare, technology, or computing and IT. If physics has piqued your interest, consider starting your physics degree today.
Best Physics colleges in the U.S. for 2026
Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2024, 102 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 70 Bachelor's degrees, 31 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Master's degree.
Cornell University offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 84 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 45 Bachelor's degrees, 23 Master's degrees, and 16 Doctoral degrees.
University of California-Santa Barbara offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2024, 213 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 138 Bachelor's degrees, 45 Master's degrees, and 30 Doctoral degrees.
Lehigh University offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 20 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 8 Bachelor's degrees, 8 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.
University of Notre Dame offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 48 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 25 Bachelor's degrees, 14 Doctoral degrees, and 9 Master's degrees.
Boston College offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 18 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 8 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Master's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.
University of California-Berkeley offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2024, 174 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 112 Bachelor's degrees, 40 Doctoral degrees, and 22 Master's degrees.
The University of Texas at Austin offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 133 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 93 Bachelor's degrees, 33 Doctoral degrees, and 7 Master's degrees.
University of California-San Diego offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 74 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 31 Bachelor's degrees, 29 Doctoral degrees, and 14 Master's degrees.
University of Maryland-College Park offers 3 Physics, General degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 110 Physics, General students graduated with students earning 67 Bachelor's degrees, 39 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.
Find local colleges with Physics majors in the U.S.
List of all Physics colleges in the U.S.
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | 9 : 1 | 11,886 | |
|
Cornell University Ithaca, NY | 13 : 1 | 26,793 | |
|
University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | 24 : 1 | 26,133 | |
|
Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA | 13 : 1 | 7,692 | |
|
University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | 10 : 1 | 13,042 | |