2026 Best General Physics Schools in Tennessee

General Physics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general physics students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best General Physics Schools in Tennessee

Best Schools for General Physics in Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general physics education in Tennessee.

Top Schools in General Physics

1

The University Of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

34 General Physics Degrees Awarded

$49,826 Median Starting Salary

The University Of Tennessee tops our 2026 ranking of the best general physics schools. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 general physics students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general physics degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $49,826 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,344. More information about a degree in general physics from The University Of Tennessee

2

Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

11 General Physics Degrees Awarded

$43,575 Median Starting Salary

Middle Tennessee State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general physics, ranking #2. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 11 general physics degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general physics degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $43,575 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete this degree. See the full general physics program report for Middle Tennessee State University

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.

• 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.