Best colleges for Physics in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Cornell University and Rochester Institute of Technology are the top bachelor's Physics programs in New York by graduate earnings. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,348, College Scorecard. New York University, University of Rochester and Stony Brook University award the most Physics degrees in New York: 153, 147 and 145 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 59 New York colleges offer Physics and award 1,101 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…
Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,348 | 52 | 84% | $28,900 | $20,270 |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,933 | 96 | 95% | $17,613 | $15,961 |
| 3 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,374 | 71 | 70% | $28,133 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,562 | 145 | 76% | — | $21,683 |
| 5 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,802 | 153 | 88% | $29,023 | $22,750 |
| 6 | CUNY City College New York Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,908 | 12 | 57% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Physics degrees in New York
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 153 | $24,802 |
| 2 | University of Rochester Rochester Private not-for-profit | 147 | Not reported |
| 3 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public | 145 | $44,562 |
| 4 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 96 | $50,933 |
| 5 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester Private not-for-profit | 71 | $48,374 |
| 6 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 67 | Not reported |
| 7 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy Private not-for-profit | 52 | $60,348 |
| 8 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 37 | Not reported |
| 9 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
| 10 | University at Albany Albany Public | 20 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 49 New York colleges offering Physics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center (Online) | New York | Public | 31 |
| Binghamton University | Vestal | Public | 17 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point | Public | 15 |
| Colgate University | Hamilton | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 12 |
| CUNY Hunter College | New York | Public | 11 |
| Le Moyne College | Syracuse | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Barnard College | New York | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Union College | Schenectady | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz | Public | 8 |
| Yeshiva University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Clarkson University | Potsdam | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| St. John Fisher University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | Brooklyn | Public | 5 |
| CUNY Lehman College | Bronx | Public | 5 |
| CUNY Queens College | Queens | Public | 5 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| St Lawrence University | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| SUNY Buffalo State University | Buffalo | Public | 5 |
| State University of New York at Cortland | Cortland | Public | 5 |
| Ithaca College | Ithaca | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Siena University | Loudonville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | Geneseo | Public | 4 |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh | Plattsburgh | Public | 4 |
| College of Staten Island CUNY | Staten Island | Public | 3 |
| Fordham University | Bronx | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Houghton University | Houghton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| St. John's University - New York | Queens | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| SUNY Brockport | Brockport | Public | 3 |
| Alfred University | Alfred | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| CUNY York College | Jamaica | Public | 2 |
| New York Institute of Technology | Old Westbury | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Roberts Wesleyan University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| St Bonaventure University | Saint Bonaventure | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| SUNY at Fredonia | Fredonia | Public | 2 |
| State University of New York at Oswego | Oswego | Public | 2 |
| SUNY Old Westbury | Old Westbury | Public | 2 |
| Wagner College | Staten Island | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Simon's Rock at Bard College | Barrytown | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn | Public | 1 |
| CUNY Queensborough Community College | Bayside | Public | 1 |
| Hartwick College | Oneonta | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St. Thomas Aquinas College | Sparkill | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Utica University | Utica | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Physicists (SOC 19-2012).
Top skills
What Physicists earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Physics programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Physics degrees?+
New York University (153 graduates a year), University of Rochester (147 graduates a year) and Stony Brook University (145 graduates a year) award the most Physics degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 59 New York colleges offer Physics.
What is the best college for Physics in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads among bachelor's Physics programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,348, College Scorecard. Cornell University and Rochester Institute of Technology follow. By degrees awarded, New York University is the largest, with 153 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Physics program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute tops the list at $60,348. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Physicists earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Physicists in New York is $182,580 (median $181,970), across about 1,140 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.
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