by our College Data Analytics TeamPhysics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 65 schools to find the best for physics students.
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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Brown University tops our 2026 ranking of the best physics schools. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brown University awarded about 86 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $62,820 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree. Get the full physics details for Brown University
A rank of #2 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for physics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 102 physics students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data 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. See the full physics program report for Harvard University
Students looking for a strong physics program will find one at Middlebury College, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 physics students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948. Get the full physics details for Middlebury College
Students looking for a strong physics program will find one at Tufts University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 physics degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from Tufts University earn around $68,154 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. See the full physics program report for Tufts University
Students looking for a strong physics program will find one at Yale University, which ranked #5. 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. About 93 physics degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357. More information about a degree in physics from Yale University
Bowdoin College landed the #6 spot for physics this year. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 physics degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. Bowdoin College graduates carry a median of $20,658 in student loans. Get the full physics details for Bowdoin College
Wesleyan University landed the #7 spot for physics this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 physics students who graduated with this degree at Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in physics from Wesleyan University
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #8 position for physics this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 81 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $54,773 early in their careers. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Get the full physics details for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Wellesley College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. About 92% of students finish within six years. Wellesley College awarded about 12 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $48,902 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,075 to complete this degree. Read more about the physics program at Wellesley College
Bates College earned the #10 position for physics this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lewiston. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 physics students who graduated with this degree at Bates College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Bates College generally make around $43,933. Typical student debt for the program is $12,226. More information about a degree in physics from Bates College
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #11 spot for physics this year. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn around $48,324 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,177 to complete this degree. Read more about the physics program at University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Brandeis University earned the #12 position for physics this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 23 physics degrees were awarded at Brandeis University in the most recent year. Physics graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $47,783 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,653. Get the full physics details for Brandeis University
College Of The Holy Cross came in at #13 for physics this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. College Of The Holy Cross awarded about 15 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from College Of The Holy Cross earn around $51,478 in the first couple years of their career. College Of The Holy Cross graduates carry a median of $26,387 in student loans. More information about a degree in physics from College Of The Holy Cross
Boston University placed #14 among the best physics schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Boston University awarded about 31 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $63,598 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree. See the full physics program report for Boston University
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned the #15 position for physics this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $54,669 early in their careers. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans. Get the full physics details for University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Northeastern University came in at #16 for physics this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 44 physics students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $49,399 in their early career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans. Read more about the physics program at Northeastern University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #17 among the best physics schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the physics program at University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Bridgewater State University came in at #18 for physics this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 12 physics degrees were awarded at Bridgewater State University in the most recent year. Physics graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $48,937 early in their careers. Bridgewater State University graduates carry a median of $26,632 in student loans. See the full physics program report for Bridgewater State University
University Of Maine came in at #19 for physics this year. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 13 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maine in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $47,975. Typical student debt for the program is $25,984. More information about a degree in physics from University Of Maine
University Of Connecticut came in at #20 for physics this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 39 physics degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Physics graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $32,341 early in their careers. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $26,324 in student loans. Get the full physics details for University Of Connecticut
This list is compiled 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 · 65 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.