2026 Best Value Physics Education Schools in Minnesota

[Physics Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/physics-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for physics education students.
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2026 Best Value Physics Education Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physics education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physics Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Saint Cloud State University the best value for a degree in physics education in Minnesota. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physics education graduates is $30,795. Soon after graduation, physics education degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $43,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Minnesota State University Moorhead one of the best values for physics education. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Typical student debt for physics education graduates is $29,750. Early-career physics education graduates make about $50,892. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Winona State University one of the best values for physics education. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Students from in state pay about $10,576 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $26,762 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics education degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $53,109. That is a strong return on a $26,762 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physics education, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for physics education graduates is $26,082. Early-career physics education graduates make about $53,463. That is a strong return on a $26,082 median debt. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Martin Luther College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physics education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of New Ulm, Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,120. Physics Education graduates carry a median of $20,224 in student loans. Early-career physics education graduates make about $31,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Hamline University earned the #6 position for value in physics education this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Students borrow a median of $25,530 to complete the physics education program here. Physics Education graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $48,679 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,530 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #7 for value in physics education this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the physics education program here. Early-career physics education graduates make about $61,465. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #8 for value in physics education this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Typical student debt for physics education graduates is $27,000. Early-career physics education graduates make about $65,183. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
More Physics Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.