by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/general-physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 65 schools to find the best return on investment for general physics students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Harvard University tops our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools in the New England Region. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. General Physics graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. General Physics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Bridgewater State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,734 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. General Physics graduates carry a median of $26,632 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $48,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. General Physics graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $54,773. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Massachusetts Lowell one of the best values for general physics. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. General Physics graduates carry a median of $22,177 in student loans. General Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $48,324 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,177 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maine earned it the #5 place for general physics. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. General Physics graduates carry a median of $25,984 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $47,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
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Bowdoin College came in at #6 for value in general physics this year. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,832. General Physics graduates carry a median of $20,658 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $58,938. That is a strong return on a $20,658 median debt. Bowdoin College admits about 7% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. General Physics graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $54,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College came in at #8 for value in general physics this year. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. General Physics graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $48,902. Set against $11,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $26,324. General Physics graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $32,341 early in their careers. Set against $26,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #10 position for value in general physics this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Middlebury College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,600. General Physics graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $54,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
Brown University came in at #12 for value in general physics this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. General Physics graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. Set against $13,025 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Boston University earned the #13 position for value in general physics this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $25,232. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Yale University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $14,357. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Wesleyan University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Set in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,042 in tuition and fees. General Physics graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Early-career general physics graduates make about $39,764. Set against $16,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Bates College earned the #16 position for value in general physics this year. Located in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,590 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,226 to complete the general physics program here. Early-career general physics graduates make about $43,933. That is a strong return on a $12,226 median debt. Bates College admits about 13% of applicants.
Northeastern University came in at #17 for value in general physics this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. General Physics graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans. General Physics graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $49,399 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,797 median debt. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Brandeis University came in at #18 for value in general physics this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,080. General Physics graduates carry a median of $25,653 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $47,783. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Tufts University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $17,074. General Physics graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
College Of The Holy Cross ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value general physics schools. College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Students from in state pay about $64,500 in tuition and fees. General Physics graduates carry a median of $26,387 in student loans. General Physics graduates of College Of The Holy Cross earn a median of $51,478 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 18%.
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 · 65 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.