by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 181 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physics students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
College Of The Canyons tops our 2026 list of the best value physics schools in the Far Western Region. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Physics graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in physics will find it at San Diego Miramar College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moorpark College earned it the #3 place for physics. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Skyline College earned it the #4 place for physics. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
College Of San Mateo came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Set against $12,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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San Diego Mesa College earned the #6 position for value in physics this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Physics graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College earned the #7 position for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
Irvine Valley College earned the #8 position for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $6,672. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saddleback College earned the #9 position for value in physics this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $5,707. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Grossmont College placed #10 among the best values for physics. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,628. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
Golden West College placed #11 among the best values for physics. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, while out-of-state students pay about $11,628. Physics graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #12 for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Physics graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College earned the #13 position for value in physics this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Physics graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santiago Canyon College placed #14 among the best values for physics. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $5,500. Early-career physics graduates make about $34,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Norco College came in at #15 for value in physics this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $8,203. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reedley College came in at #16 for value in physics this year. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fullerton landed the #17 spot for physics value this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $54,471. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Hartnell College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Folsom Lake College came in at #19 for value in physics this year. Folsom Lake College is a large public school located in the city of Folsom. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,568.
Santa Ana College came in at #20 for value in physics this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Physics graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Physics graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Solano Community College earned the #21 position for value in physics this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,172, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Physics graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,170 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American River College earned the #22 position for value in physics this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,288 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $14,105. Early-career physics graduates make about $76,077. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt.
Orange Coast College came in at #23 for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $8,978. Physics graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverside City College came in at #24 for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Physics graduates carry a median of $8,767 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $37,102. That is a strong return on a $8,767 median debt.
Cypress College landed the #25 spot for physics value this year. Located in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
These schools also delivered strong value for physics this year:
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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 · 181 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 33 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.