Best institutions to study Physics
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.
800 U.S. institutions graduated 12,137 Physics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0801, a specialization of Physics (CIP 40.08), and leads most directly to the Physicists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2012).
About Physics programs
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. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
See also: 14.1201 - Engineering Physics/Applied Physics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Physics program offers a comprehensive exploration of the scientific study of matter and energy, focusing on the laws that govern their behavior. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the fundamental principles of the physical universe and preparing for advanced studies or careers in various scientific fields.
Students will gain core skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and scientific analysis. Coursework typically includes classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and laboratory methods, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary for research and practical applications.
Credentials awarded
What Physics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree6,270 graduates / yr · 646 institutions52%
- Master's degree2,076 graduates / yr · 217 institutions17%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1,913 graduates / yr · 173 institutions16%
- Associate's degree1,838 graduates / yr · 152 institutions15%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year31 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.3%
- Post-master's certificate5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate4 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Physics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 8,930 |
| 2013 | 9,571 |
| 2014 | 9,881 |
| 2015 | 10,611 |
| 2016 | 11,019 |
| 2017 | 11,267 |
| 2018 | 12,328 |
| 2019 | 12,402 |
| 2020 | 12,482 |
| 2021 | 12,086 |
| 2022 | 11,794 |
| 2023 | 11,591 |
| 2024 | 11,238 |
| 2025 | 12,137 |
Top 50 institutions for Physics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 180 | 83% | — | $53,597 |
| 2 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 171 | 93% | — | $50,219 |
| 3 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 147 | 74% | — | $41,874 |
| 4 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 141 | 76% | — | $44,562 |
| 5 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 134 | 85% | — | $41,474 |
| 6 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 126 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 7 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 125 | 93% | — | $60,495 |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 122 | 89% | — | $36,832 |
| 9 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 115 | 85% | — | $51,019 |
| 10 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 115 | 89% | — | $39,825 |
| 11 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 114 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 12 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 109 | 96% | $11,666 | $54,773 |
| 13 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 103 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 14 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 102 | 81% | — | $33,400 |
| 15 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 102 | 88% | — | $53,504 |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearDoctoral | 102 | 90% | — | $36,878 |
| 17 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 96 | 95% | $17,613 | $50,933 |
| 18 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 96 | 96% | $14,644 | — |
| 19 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 93 | 98% | $13,729 | — |
| 20 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 92 | 94% | — | — |
| 21 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 92 | 83% | — | $30,203 |
| 22 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 87 | 65% | — | $38,748 |
| 23 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 85 | 93% | — | $53,019 |
| 24 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 84 | 86% | — | — |
| 25 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 82 | 87% | — | $43,144 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 80 | 86% | — | $43,461 |
| 27 | Irvine Valley College Irvine, CAPublicAssociate's | 78 | 57% | — | — |
| 28 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 77 | 91% | — | — |
| 29 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 72 | 86% | — | $48,951 |
| 30 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 72 | 84% | — | $53,329 |
| 31 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 68 | 83% | — | — |
| 32 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 67 | 83% | — | $32,341 |
| 33 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 66 | 78% | — | $55,826 |
| 34 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 66 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 35 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 65 | 94% | $17,608 | — |
| 36 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 64 | 85% | — | $43,740 |
| 37 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 63 | 97% | $22,055 | $68,215 |
| 38 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 62 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 39 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 61 | 96% | — | — |
| 40 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 61 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 41 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 60 | 85% | — | $54,350 |
| 42 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 60 | 72% | — | — |
| 43 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 59 | 68% | — | $30,503 |
| 44 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 59 | 85% | $25,874 | — |
| 45 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 58 | 85% | — | — |
| 46 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CAPublicAssociate's | 57 | 48% | — | — |
| 47 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 56 | 76% | — | $19,977 |
| 48 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 56 | 77% | — | $46,094 |
| 49 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 56 | 86% | — | $58,061 |
| 50 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CAPublicAssociate's | 55 | 46% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Physics field (CIP 40.08) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 53 states & territories
Where Physics graduates come from. Each state links to all Physics programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2012, Physicists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Physics program can pursue careers as physicists, secondary school teachers, or natural sciences managers. 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, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0801
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Physicistsprimary SOC 19-2012 | $172,250 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~1,700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 | $72,040 | -1.6% Decline | ~66,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1054 | $100,310 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~1,300 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Physics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Physics specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Physics (CIP 40.08).
- PhysicsCIP 40.0899470 graduates / yr52 institutions
- Optics/CIP 40.0807
Optical Sciences 266 graduates / yr15 institutions - AcousticsCIP 40.0809partial data189 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Theoretical and Mathematical PhysicsCIP 40.0810partial data34 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Atomic/CIP 40.0802
Molecular Physics partial data12 graduates / yr4 institutions - Elementary Particle PhysicsCIP 40.0804partial data12 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Condensed Matter and Materials PhysicsCIP 40.0808limited data5 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Nuclear PhysicsCIP 40.0806limited data4 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Plasma and High-Temperature Physics40.0805
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral, or Associate's degree in Physics.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, mathematics, critical thinking, and data analysis.
What careers can I pursue with a Physics degree?+
You can work as a physicist, secondary school teacher, or natural sciences manager.
What is the job outlook for physicists?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 1,700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Physics?+
Physics is CIP 40.0801 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Physics (CIP 40.08). NCES defines it as: 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. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
How many institutions offer Physics programs?+
800 U.S. institutions reported Physics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 53 states & territories, awarding 12,137 credentials in the year. That is 92.4% of all Physics graduates.
How much do Physics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Physicists occupation, which Physics most directly leads to, pays a median of $172,250 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Physics field report median earnings of $48,169 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Physics graduates, so its figures match the Physics program page.
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