Physics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 959 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for physics students pursuing a degree.
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for physics. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 59 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $68,215. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #2 spot this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 17 physics degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physics, ranking #3. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 physics degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 63 physics degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Physics graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for physics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 physics degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
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Georgetown University placed #6 among the best physics schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgetown University awarded about 17 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Georgetown University earn around $79,632 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
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Rice University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 physics students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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Brown University came in at #8 for physics this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. Brown University awarded about 32 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
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Yale University came in at #9 for physics this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 physics students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 16 physics degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #11 for physics this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 71 physics degrees in the most recent data year.
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Harvard University came in at #12 for physics this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 49 physics degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Washington University In St Louis landed the #13 spot for physics this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 11 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University earned the #14 position for physics this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Princeton University awarded about 20 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $67,532 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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California Institute Of Technology placed #15 among the best physics schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 22 physics students who graduated with this degree at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from California Institute Of Technology generally make around $173,344.
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University Of Rochester came in at #16 for physics this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Rochester graduates 85% of students within six years. About 43 physics degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $60,865. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Notre Dame came in at #17 for physics this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 26 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $69,494. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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University Of California Santa Barbara placed #18 among the best physics schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 138 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $53,597. Students borrow a median of $15,982 to complete this degree.
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Middlebury College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Middlebury College awarded about 19 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $54,713. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #20 spot for physics this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 49 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $54,773 in their early career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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Colgate University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Colgate University awarded about 14 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago placed #22 among the best physics schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 54 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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Bowdoin College earned the #23 position for physics this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Brunswick. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 physics students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete this degree.
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Wesleyan University earned the #24 position for physics this year. Set in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 physics students who graduated with this degree at Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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University Of Maryland College Park earned the #25 position for physics this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 63 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $39,825 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,194 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Physics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for physics this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 959 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).
