Best Colleges and Universities for Physics Degrees

Badge for BEST FOR PHYSICS COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

The best physics degree programs are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best physics degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding physics faculty.

Key Takeaways

  • Competent physics majors from excellent physics schools possess a strong analytical skill set, giving them excellent job opportunities and salaries comparable to engineers and computer scientists.
  • The best physics programs, both graduate and undergraduate, qualify graduates to work in diverse fields not limited to physics alone, but also in geosciences, chemistry, engineering physics, and mathematics.
  • Physics professionals typically work in government and industrial laboratories, on college campuses, as astronauts, and as TV consultants.

A bachelor’s degree in physics is an excellent starting point for a career in engineering, alternative energy, space exploration, and a host of other exciting and rapidly innovating fields. As a physics major, you’ll study subjects such as calculus, mechanics, and thermodynamics.

Your degree will incorporate a variety of branches within math and physics, including astrophysics, biophysics, and quantum physics. The best schools for physics are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of physics concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Featured Programs

A college’s physics department offers the best curricula to produce the most competent professionals. A significant number of physics graduates go on to earn doctorates. Others venture into medical or military fields. Physics majors can also pursue careers as scientists, astronomers, engineers, and cosmologists.

No matter the occupation, employers seek creative problem solvers! And this is what a physics degree, particularly those that work in partnership with the National Science Foundation, can equip graduates with.

Physicists discovered relativity and string theory, which impacted diverse industries and societies and . They use mathematics to understand and solve interesting problems. Aside from tackling core courses on computing, data analytics, and the sciences, students also complete mathematical courses. They also learn technical writing, leadership, and critical thinking skills.

Physicists discovered relativity and string theory, which impacted diverse industries and societies and . They use mathematics to understand and solve interesting problems. Aside from tackling core courses on computing, data analytics, and the sciences, students also complete mathematical courses. They also learn technical writing, leadership, and critical thinking skills.

Physicists discovered relativity and string theory, which impacted diverse industries and societies and changed how we live. They use mathematics to understand and solve interesting problems.

Aside from tackling core courses on computing, data analytics, and the sciences, students also complete mathematical courses. They also learn technical writing, leadership, and critical thinking skills.

Importance of Work Experience

Pursuing a career in the field of best physics will require you to acquire work experience at the onset. If you can gain relevant work experiences, such as a placement or a year in the industry, take advantage of it. Build your network and gain practical skills during this time to complement your academic studies.

Engage in professional groups and organizations at the best physics college or university. Some of the best physics colleges and schools offer many physics-related events and groups you can join.

Become a laboratory technician or assistant as a part-time or summer job if you want to pursue a career in science. Working during vacations or summer internships help to develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills, and is always beneficial.

Get relevant internship experience in whatever field you are interested in to improve your chances of getting a job. If you plan to enter the education sector as a physics educator, spend some time observing and working with students in the classroom. The key is to be on the hunt for any work, study abroad, and internship opportunities.

Career Outlook for Physics Graduates

It is interesting to note that very few “physicist” hiring opportunities exist for graduates with only a bachelor’s degree. In general, physicist jobs are reserved for people with a PhD.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of physicists and astronomers is expected to grow by 8% by 2031.

Graduates with a PhD are highly desirable in the job market due to their problem-solving and abstract thinking training. Some other professions to apply for include academic researcher, meteorologist, geophysicist, technical author, data analyst, and more.

The number of atmospheric scientists, such as meteorologists, is expected to increase by 700 annually over the next decade. If you have a physics degree, you may be interested in its economic value. There are differing salary ranges for different concentrations, but overall, physics is a well-paying field.

Frequently Asked Questions About Physics Bachelor’s Degrees

Earning a bachelor’s degree in physics can open numerous professional doors, particularly in the field of engineering. A physics degree can help prepare you for work as an engineering technician, data scientist, or geologist. It’s also a great starting point if you plan to eventually pursue a license to be a professional engineer (PE), or if you intend to continue into an advanced degree program and become a research scientist, physicist, or astronomer. The best schools for physics will put you in a position to become an innovator and a leader in this exciting and challenging field.

Today, top influencers in physics are breaking new ground in Mathematical Physics, Quantum Field Theory, Theoretical Physics, and much more.

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Physics is a great major because it can serve as the starting point for a number of well-paying careers. For instance, physicists and astronomers earned a median of $122,220 per year in 2019; geoscientists earned a median salary of $92,040; and industrial engineers saw a median of $88,020 in the same year. A bachelor’s degree in physics gives you the chance to choose between these and a wide range of other pathways where salaries and the rate of job growth are much higher than the average for all professions.

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Once you’ve declared your major in physics, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of STEM-related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized physics electives, there are several common courses that most physics majors will be required to take, including:

  • Classical Mechanics
  • Modern Physics
  • Calculus
  • Mathematical Physics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Differential Equations
  • Electricity and Magnetism
  • Waves and Optics
  • Statistical Physics
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • Atomic Physics

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Earning a degree in physics can qualify you for a number of well-paying jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of jobs for physicists and astronomers is expected to grow at a rate of 5% by 2029, which is faster than the average for all occupations. For industrial engineers, that rate is even higher, at 10%. Depending on your concentration, a degree in physics could help you make the jump into one of these high-growth sectors. The following are among the most popular jobs for physics majors:

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The Best Colleges and Universities for Physics Degrees

Best Physics Major Research Universities

  1. Harvard University
  2. MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  3. Princeton University
  4. Stanford University
  5. CalTech – California Institute of Technology

Go to The Best Physics Major Research Universities

Best Physics Major Liberal Arts Colleges

  1. Swarthmore College
  2. Williams College
  3. Amherst College
  4. Wellesley College
  5. Pomona College

Go to The Best Physics Major Liberal Arts Colleges

Career Outlook for Students with Physics Degree

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Physics

Degree Level: Bachelor's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $11,584
  • Avg. Expenses*: $17,089
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $43,002
  • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $65,304
  • Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 9 years
  • Job Growth: 1.41%
  • Number of Jobs: 1,195,900
  • * denotes ‘annually’
  • ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Physicists4.74%$144,964
Natural Sciences Managers4.87%$122,066
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary3.70%$90,850
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education1.03%$61,619

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%MedianTop 10%
$66,591$113,348$167,330

Promising Job Markets

StateCost of LivingAvg. Salary
#2 North Carolina11% higher than average$133,162
#3 Missouri16% higher than average$120,559
#4 Pennsylvania5% higher than average$133,969
#5 New York5% higher than average$145,155
#6 Wisconsin7% higher than average$129,025

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Physicists$144,964
Natural Sciences Managers$122,066
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary$90,850

The Best Physics Schools in Your State

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