by our College Data Analytics TeamPhysics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their physics programs.
College Factual analyzed 177 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best physics schools.
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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.
No school ranked higher than Duke University this year for physics. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. Duke University awarded about 59 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Get the full physics details for Duke University
Students looking for a strong physics program will find one at Davidson College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. Davidson College awarded about 15 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $41,505. Davidson College graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans. Read more about the physics program at Davidson College
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physics, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 44 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in physics from University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 46 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $62,647 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $19,200 in student loans. Read more about the physics program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
College Of William And Mary is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physics, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 physics students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $53,338 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree. See the full physics program report for College Of William And Mary
University Of Central Florida ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 65 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $55,826 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,138 to complete this degree. Get the full physics details for University Of Central Florida
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #7 among the best physics schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 81 physics degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Students borrow a median of $21,831 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in physics from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Auburn University earned the #8 position for physics this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 32 physics students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $55,422 in their early career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans. Get the full physics details for Auburn University
James Madison University earned the #9 position for physics this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 physics students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $52,997 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,218. See the full physics program report for James Madison University
Clemson University came in at #10 for physics this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Clemson University awarded about 34 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Clemson University earn around $53,834 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete this degree. Get the full physics details for Clemson University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #11 for physics this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 52 physics degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the physics program make about $43,740 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $23,490 in student loans. Get the full physics details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #12 position for physics this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 physics students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $49,718 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,348 to complete this degree. See the full physics program report for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Huntsville. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. University Of Alabama At Huntsville awarded about 32 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of University Of Alabama At Huntsville earn a median of $62,903 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,797. See the full physics program report for University Of Alabama At Huntsville
University Of Florida ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida awarded about 80 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750. Get the full physics details for University Of Florida
Longwood University placed #15 among the best physics schools. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 10 physics degrees were awarded at Longwood University in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from Longwood University earn around $43,800 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,649. See the full physics program report for Longwood University
Florida State University placed #16 among the best physics schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida State University awarded about 36 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. Students borrow a median of $20,765 to complete this degree. Get the full physics details for Florida State University
Florida International University came in at #17 for physics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Miami. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 physics degrees were awarded at Florida International University in the most recent year. Physics graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $52,517 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,349. See the full physics program report for Florida International University
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #18 for physics this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $50,876. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,444 in student loans. Read more about the physics program at University Of Mississippi Main Campus
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #19 among the best physics schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 physics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $70,150 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Get the full physics details for University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
University Of North Georgia earned the #20 position for physics this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Dahlonega. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 physics degrees were awarded at University Of North Georgia in the most recent year. Students who receive their physics degree from University Of North Georgia earn around $43,714 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,439 to complete this degree. See the full physics program report for University Of North Georgia
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 49 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $46,094 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree. Get the full physics details for University Of South Florida Main Campus
Emory University earned the #22 position for physics this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Emory University awarded about 24 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physics degree from Emory University earn around $67,840 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete this degree. Read more about the physics program at Emory University
George Mason University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best physics schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 physics students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $63,131 early in their careers. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Read more about the physics program at George Mason University
West Virginia University came in at #24 for physics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Morgantown. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. West Virginia University awarded about 41 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Physics graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $51,750 early in their careers. West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. See the full physics program report for West Virginia University
University Of Louisville placed #25 among the best physics schools. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Louisville awarded about 23 physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physics program make about $58,534 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,910 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in physics from University Of Louisville
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s physics ranking:
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 · 177 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
