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Best Colleges with Physics Degrees in the U.S.
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.
The Best Physics Colleges of 2017
| Rank | School Name | Location | Description | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yale University | New Haven, CT |
Yale University offers 5 Physics Degree programs. It's a large private university in a mid sized city. In 2015, 82 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 27 Bachelor's degrees, 26 Master's degrees, 20 Certificates degrees, and 9 Doctoral degrees. | Based on 12 Reviews |
Read more: Yale University Reviews
| |
| 2 | Harvard University | Cambridge, MA |
Harvard University offers 4 Physics Degree programs. It's a large private university in a mid sized city. In 2015, 93 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 41 Bachelor's degrees, 27 Doctoral degrees, and 25 Master's degrees. | Based on 44 Reviews |
Read more: Harvard University Reviews
| |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY |
Columbia University in the City of New York offers 5 Physics Degree programs. It's a large private university in a large city. In 2015, 77 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 28 Bachelor's degrees, 24 Certificates degrees, 14 Doctoral degrees, and 11 Master's degrees. | Based on 20 Reviews | ||
| 4 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers 4 Physics Degree programs. It's a large private university in a mid sized city. In 2015, 126 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 81 Bachelor's degrees, 39 Doctoral degrees, and 6 Master's degrees. | Based on 40 Reviews | ||
| 5 | Princeton University | Princeton, NJ |
Princeton University offers 3 Physics Degree programs. It's a medium sized private university in a large suburb. In 2015, 79 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 30 Doctoral degrees, 27 Bachelor's degrees, and 22 Master's degrees. | Based on 28 Reviews |
Read more: Princeton University Reviews
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| 6 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA |
Stanford University offers 4 Physics Degree programs. It's a large private university in a large suburb. In 2015, 46 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 21 Bachelor's degrees, 21 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees. | Based on 64 Reviews |
Read more: Stanford University Reviews
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| 7 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA |
University of Pennsylvania offers 4 Physics Degree programs. It's a large private university in a large city. In 2015, 92 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 35 Master's degrees, 33 Bachelor's degrees, and 24 Doctoral degrees. | Based on 56 Reviews |
Read more: University of Pennsylvania Reviews
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| 8 | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
University of California-Berkeley offers 4 Physics Degree programs. It's a large public university in a mid sized city. In 2015, 149 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 88 Bachelor's degrees, 31 Master's degrees, and 30 Doctoral degrees. | Based on 140 Reviews |
Read more: University of California-Berkeley Reviews
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| 9 | University of Chicago | Chicago, IL |
University of Chicago offers 4 Physics Degree programs. It's a large private university in a large city. In 2015, 81 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 49 Bachelor's degrees, 21 Doctoral degrees, and 11 Master's degrees. | Based on 28 Reviews |
Read more: University of Chicago Reviews
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| 10 | University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
University of California-Los Angeles offers 4 Physics Degree programs. It's a large public university in a large city. In 2015, 128 students graduated in the study area of Physics with students earning 82 Bachelor's degrees, 30 Master's degrees, and 16 Doctoral degrees. | Based on 88 Reviews |
Read more: University of California-Los Angeles Reviews
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List of Physics Schools in the U.S.
| School Logo | School Name | Average tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yale University New Haven, CT |
5/5
|
5 : 1 | 12,385 |
|
Harvard University Cambridge, MA |
5/5
|
14 : 1 | 29,652 |
|
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY |
5/5
|
7 : 1 | 28,086 |
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA |
5/5
|
8 : 1 | 11,331 |
|
Princeton University Princeton, NJ |
5/5
|
9 : 1 | 8,138 |
|
Stanford University Stanford, CA |
5/5
|
6 : 1 | 16,980 |
|
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA |
5/5
|
12 : 1 | 24,876 |
|
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA |
3/5
|
21 : 1 | 38,189 |
|
University of Chicago Chicago, IL |
5/5
|
7 : 1 | 15,391 |
|
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA |
3/5
|
12 : 1 | 41,908 |
|
Cornell University Ithaca, NY |
5/5
|
12 : 1 | 21,904 |
|
California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA |
5/5
|
7 : 1 | 2,255 |
|
Brown University Providence, RI |
5/5
|
12 : 1 | 9,458 |
|
Rice University Houston, TX |
5/5
|
10 : 1 | 6,719 |
|
Duke University Durham, NC |
5/5
|
5 : 1 | 15,984 |
|
University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN |
5/5
|
11 : 1 | 12,292 |
|
Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN |
5/5
|
4 : 1 | 12,567 |
|
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD |
5/5
|
6 : 1 | 22,686 |
|
Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO |
5/5
|
9 : 1 | 14,688 |
|
Dartmouth College Hanover, NH |
5/5
|
8 : 1 | 6,350 |
|
University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA |
3/5
|
24 : 1 | 23,497 |
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI |
3/5
|
7 : 1 | 43,651 |
|
Georgetown University Washington, DC |
5/5
|
13 : 1 | 18,459 |
|
University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA |
4/5
|
11 : 1 | 23,883 |
|
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA |
5/5
|
16 : 1 | 43,401 |
Find Local Colleges Offering Physics Degrees
Getting a Physics Degree Online
Schools offering online Physics degrees
Online Physics degrees are available at a variety of different schools with as many as 7 degrees earned at the most popular school. Read more below about all schools that have offered online Physics degrees. If you are interested learning more about getting a degree online, check out our page dedicated to online degree information.
| School Name | Certificate | Associate's | Bachelor's | Master's | Doctoral |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presbyterian College | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Clarkson University | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Texas A & M University-Commerce | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- 2 Associate's
- 1 Bachelor's
- 3 Master's
What degrees do people get in Physics?
| Degree Level | Program Length | Colleges | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate's | 2-year Length | 135 Colleges | 714 Graduates |
| Bachelor's | 4-year Length | 766 Colleges | 7,017 Graduates |
| Certificates | < 1 year Length | 9 Colleges | 121 Graduates |
| Doctoral | 1-2 year Length | 174 Colleges | 1,687 Graduates |
| Master's | 1+ years Length | 240 Colleges | 1,701 Graduates |
Physics Degree Overview
Researching a Physics degree you will find that there are many options for a traditional degree as well as higher education possibilities. The most prevalent path for those earning a degree in Physics can figure a standard two to four years to earn a degree. The standard Physics degree earned was a bachelor's degree and it also has the widest range of school possibilities as well. The second most popular Physics degree that people receive is a master's degree which illustrates a focus on higher learning. This indicates that the degree requires dedication to schooling and you may want to seek more than a four year time commitment. Although a certificate is offered at some schools, getting a certificate is not very common. With your goals in mind, look for the Physics degree that can match your flexibility and needs in addition to finding a school with the right opportunities for you to earn that degree.
Average cost of college for a Physics degree
Average Tuition and Fees for a 2 year Degree
| Average Tuition and Fees | School Control | Student Residence |
|---|---|---|
| $2,125 | Public | In-State |
| $6,184 | Public | Out-of-State |
Average Tuition and Fees for a 4 year Degree
| Average Tuition and Fees | School Control | Student Residence |
|---|---|---|
| $8,856 | Public | In-State |
| $35,952 | Private | In-State |
| $21,306 | Public | Out-of-State |
| $35,952 | Private | Out-of-State |