Best colleges for Physics in Missouri
Ranked by graduates a year
Washington University in St Louis, University of Missouri-Columbia and University of Missouri-Kansas City award the most Physics degrees and certificates in Missouri: 48, 26 and 16 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 Missouri colleges offer Physics and award 135 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Physics program focuses on the study of matter, energy, and the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses various specializations, including Atomic/Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Optics/Optical Sciences, making it suitable…
14 institutions offering Physics in Missouri
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis Private not-for-profit | — | 48 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | — | 26 | 75% | — | $16,005 |
| 3 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public | — | 16 | 55% | — | — |
| 4 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla Public | — | 12 | 64% | — | — |
| 5 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | — | 10 | 58% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public | — | 5 | 57% | — | — |
| 7 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin Public | — | 3 | 42% | — | — |
| 8 | Truman State University Kirksville Public | — | 3 | 69% | — | — |
| 9 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Public | — | 3 | 54% | — | — |
| 10 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | — | 3 | 80% | $24,886 | — |
| 11 | Drury University Springfield Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 62% | $20,482 | — |
| 12 | William Jewell College Liberty Private not-for-profit | — | 2 | 68% | $14,072 | — |
| 13 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public | — | 1 | 58% | — | — |
| 14 | Westminster College Fulton Private not-for-profit | — | 1 | 55% | $25,185 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Physics degrees in Missouri
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis Private not-for-profit | 48 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 26 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public | 16 | Not reported |
| 4 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 5 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 7 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 8 | Truman State University Kirksville Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 9 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 10 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 Missouri colleges offering Physics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drury University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| William Jewell College | Liberty | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau | Public | 1 |
| Westminster College | Fulton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Physicists (SOC 19-2012).
Top skills
What Physicists earn in Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Physics programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Physics degrees?+
Washington University in St Louis (48 graduates a year), University of Missouri-Columbia (26 graduates a year) and University of Missouri-Kansas City (16 graduates a year) award the most Physics degrees and certificates in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 Missouri colleges offer Physics.
How much do Physicists earn in Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Physicists in Missouri is $156,130 (median $140,460), across about 90 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Physics program?+
The Physics program focuses on the study of matter, energy, and the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses various specializations, including Atomic/Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Optics/Optical Sciences, making it suitable…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, reading comprehension, mathematics, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Physicists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.0% growth with around 1,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card