2026 Best Value Physics Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Physics Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/physics-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physics education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value physics education schools.
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2026 Best Value Physics Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physics education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physics Education Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among physics education schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $17,125 in student loans. Early-career physics education graduates make about $61,829. Set against $17,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for physics education. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the physics education program here. Soon after graduation, physics education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Ball State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value physics education schools. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $24,998 in student loans. Physics Education graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physics education will find it at Augustana College Illinois, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,598 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physics education graduates is $27,000. Physics Education graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $45,145 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Students looking for strong value in physics education will find it at Youngstown State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Typical student debt for physics education graduates is $26,751. Early-career physics education graduates make about $49,025. That is a strong return on a $26,751 median debt. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global placed #6 among the best values for physics education. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $32,807 in student loans. Early-career physics education graduates make about $53,752. Set against $32,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Michigan University landed the #7 spot for physics education value this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the physics education program here. Early-career physics education graduates make about $50,688. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Albion College earned the #8 position for value in physics education this year. Located in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,950. Students borrow a median of $26,047 to complete the physics education program here. Soon after graduation, physics education degree recipients from Albion College generally make around $40,829. Set against $26,047 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Michigan University earned the #9 position for value in physics education this year. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,322, compared with $19,944 for out-of-state students. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career physics education graduates make about $40,508. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value physics education schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics education degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Evansville ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value physics education schools. Located in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,172. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics education degree recipients from University Of Evansville generally make around $59,618. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Evansville admits about 78% of applicants.
Western Michigan University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value physics education schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Physics Education graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Valparaiso University came in at #13 for value in physics education this year. Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valparaiso. Students from in state pay about $48,450 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physics education graduates is $27,000. Early-career physics education graduates make about $51,987. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Valparaiso University admits about 89% of applicants.
Bradley University earned the #14 position for value in physics education this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physics education program here. Soon after graduation, physics education degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $42,917. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Taylor University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value physics education schools. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,490. Typical student debt for physics education graduates is $21,500. Physics Education graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $45,090 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Calvin College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value physics education schools. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,350. Typical student debt for physics education graduates is $26,022. Early-career physics education graduates make about $44,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Cedarville University earned the #17 position for value in physics education this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,150. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics education degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $57,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Saint Norbert College came in at #18 for value in physics education this year. Saint Norbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of De Pere. In-state tuition and fees average $45,580. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $24,889 in student loans. Early-career physics education graduates make about $48,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Hope College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value physics education schools. Located in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,484 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physics education program here. Early-career physics education graduates make about $39,644. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University earned the #20 position for value in physics education this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Students borrow a median of $26,910 to complete the physics education program here. Physics Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $52,130 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Rio Grande placed #21 among the best values for physics education. Located in the rural area of Rio Grande, University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $20,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,044 to complete the physics education program here. Physics Education graduates of University Of Rio Grande earn a median of $46,611 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
