Best institutions to study Physics
Compare 816 U.S. colleges offering Physics by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 53 states.
Physics programs report a median of $48,169 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 40.08 and the Physicists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Physics programs
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 for students interested in understanding the principles governing the physical world. This program is ideal for those who enjoy problem-solving and have a strong foundation in mathematics and science.
Students in the Physics program will develop core skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and data analysis. Coursework often includes complex calculations, research methodologies, and the design of computer simulations to model physical phenomena, providing a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical and applied physics.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,150 | 44 | 69% | — | $28,750 |
| 2 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,664 | 54 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,215 | 75 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 4 | Whitworth University Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,316 | 5 | 71% | $23,510 | $23,250 |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,045 | 23 | 68% | — | $23,000 |
| 6 | Portland State University Portland, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,749 | 10 | 53% | — | $29,070 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,647 | 51 | 91% | — | $19,200 |
| 8 | Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,478 | 1 | 64% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,196 | 8 | 57% | — | $30,000 |
| 10 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,495 | 125 | 93% | — | $21,100 |
| 11 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,348 | 52 | 84% | $28,900 | $20,270 |
| 12 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,870 | 11 | 49% | — | $23,625 |
| 13 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,061 | 56 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 14 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,435 | 30 | 69% | — | $25,000 |
| 15 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,114 | 15 | 55% | — | — |
| 16 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,018 | 6 | 55% | — | $19,069 |
| 17 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,826 | 66 | 78% | — | $18,138 |
| 18 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,773 | 109 | 96% | $11,666 | $18,500 |
| 19 | Salisbury University Salisbury, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,548 | 7 | 68% | — | $23,750 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin - La Crosse La Crosse, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,428 | 11 | 71% | — | $26,292 |
| 21 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,350 | 67 | 85% | — | $23,594 |
| 22 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,597 | 180 | 83% | — | $15,982 |
| 23 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,504 | 106 | 88% | — | $23,357 |
| 24 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,329 | 72 | 84% | — | $17,522 |
| 25 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,019 | 100 | 93% | — | $22,250 |
| 26 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,741 | 39 | 81% | — | $26,572 |
| 27 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,927 | 28 | 67% | — | — |
| 28 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,019 | 115 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 29 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,933 | 96 | 95% | $17,613 | $15,961 |
| 30 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,219 | 171 | 93% | — | $15,508 |
| 31 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,399 | 51 | 91% | $18,925 | $26,797 |
| 32 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,951 | 110 | 86% | — | $16,800 |
| 33 | CUNY City College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,908 | 12 | 57% | — | — |
| 34 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,374 | 71 | 70% | $28,133 | $27,000 |
| 35 | University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,324 | 26 | 65% | — | $22,177 |
| 36 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,169 | 34 | 70% | — | $25,410 |
| 37 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,670 | 30 | 67% | — | $25,209 |
| 38 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,641 | 7 | 76% | — | — |
| 39 | University of South Florida Tampa, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,094 | 56 | 77% | — | $22,750 |
| 40 | Boise State University Boise, ID Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,813 | 14 | 60% | — | $26,175 |
| 41 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,562 | 145 | 76% | — | $21,683 |
| 42 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,740 | 64 | 85% | — | $23,490 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,461 | 89 | 86% | — | $23,830 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,461 | 12 | 34% | — | $23,830 |
| 45 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,144 | 113 | 87% | — | $15,000 |
| 46 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,057 | 41 | 69% | — | $23,229 |
| 47 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,874 | 147 | 74% | — | $20,635 |
| 48 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,737 | 27 | 55% | — | $23,500 |
| 49 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,474 | 134 | 85% | — | $17,113 |
| 50 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,474 | 7 | 65% | — | $17,113 |
Offered across 53 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2012, Physicists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Physics program can pursue various careers in research, academia, and industry. The job outlook for physicists is about as fast as average, with an estimated 1,700 annual openings and a median wage of $166,290. Most positions require a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Physics
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 40.08.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 40.08 (Physics) maps to 4 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9121 | Natural Sciences Managers |
| 19-2012 | Physicistsprimary |
| 25-1054 | Physics Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Physics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- Write research proposals to receive funding.
- Teach physics to students.
Concentrations within Physics
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Physics, GeneralCIP 40.0801
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum
- Atomic/Molecular PhysicsCIP 40.0802
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the behavior of matter-energy phenomena at the level of atoms and molecules
- Elementary Particle PhysicsCIP 40.0804
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the basic constituents of sub-atomic matter and energy, and the forces governing fundamental processes
- Plasma and High-Temperature PhysicsCIP 40.0805
A program that focuses on the scientific study of properties and behavior of matter at high temperatures, such that molecular and atomic structures are in a disassociated ionic or electronic state
- Nuclear PhysicsCIP 40.0806
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the properties and behavior of atomic nuclei
- Optics/Optical SciencesCIP 40.0807
A program that focuses on the scientific study of light energy, including its structure, properties and behavior under different conditions
- Condensed Matter and Materials PhysicsCIP 40.0808
A program that focuses on the scientific study of macroscopic physical phenomena and properties that arise from basic microscopic interactions
- AcousticsCIP 40.0809
A program that focuses on the scientific study of sound, and the properties and behavior of acoustic wave phenomena under different conditions
- Theoretical and Mathematical PhysicsCIP 40.0810
A program that focuses on the scientific and mathematical formulation and evaluation of the physical laws governing, and models describing, matter-energy phenomena, and the analysis of related experim
- Physics, OtherCIP 40.0899
Any instructional program in physics not listed above.
Common questions
What can I do with a degree in Physics?+
Graduates can work in research, academia, or various industries, focusing on areas like materials science, optics, or nuclear physics.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in science, mathematics, critical thinking, and data analysis.
What is the job outlook for physicists?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with approximately 1,700 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
Most careers in physics require a doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Physics graduates earn?+
Physics graduates report median earnings of $48,169 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Physicists occupation pays about $171,180 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Physics?+
Physics maps to CIP 40.08 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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