2024 Best Physics Schools in California
21
Colleges in California
2,939
Physics Degrees Awarded
$41,268
Avg Early-Career Salary
A degree in
physics is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #68 out of 395 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. As a result, there are many college that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.
College Factual looked at 21 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Physics Schools in California ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 2,939 degrees in physics to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Physics School
The physics program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Physics rankings. For our Best Overall Physics School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Pick Your Physics Degree Level
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Physics Schools in California list to help you make the college decision.
If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.
Best Schools for Physics in California
The schools below may not offer all types of physics degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer.
10 Top California Schools in Physics
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
8th
Most Popular In CA
99
Physics Degrees Awarded
Stanford University is a good option for students pursuing a degree in physics. Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #3 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Stanford is a great university overall.
There were about 99 physics students who graduated with this degree at Stanford in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in physics from Stanford UniversityAny student pursuing a degree in physics needs to take a look at University of California - Los Angeles. UCLA is a very large public university located in the city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of #26 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UCLA is a great university overall.
There were roughly 119 physics students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the physics program earn about $42,865 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Los AngelesEvery student pursuing a degree in physics has to check out University of California - Santa Barbara. UCSB is a very large public university located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. A Best Colleges rank of #45 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UCSB is a great university overall.
There were approximately 194 physics students who graduated with this degree at UCSB in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physics degree program at University of California - Santa Barbara make $8,595 above the standard graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Santa BarbaraAny student who is interested in physics has to take a look at University of California - Berkeley. Located in the city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #18 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.
There were roughly 152 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the physics major at University of California - Berkeley make $18,434 above the typical college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - BerkeleyLocated in the large city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #38 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UCSD is a great university overall.
There were approximately 71 physics students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the physics program state that they receive average early career earnings of $41,524.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - San DiegoLocated in the city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #61 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UC Irvine is a great university overall.
There were about 121 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Irvine in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the physics program report average early career income of $33,381.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - IrvineDoctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
13th
Most Popular In CA
60
Physics Degrees Awarded
Located in the city of Pasadena, Caltech is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #31 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Caltech is a great school overall.
There were approximately 60 physics students who graduated with this degree at Caltech in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in physics from California Institute of TechnologyUC Davis is a very large public university located in the suburb of Davis. A Best Colleges rank of #52 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UC Davis is a great university overall.
There were roughly 97 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the physics program make around $25,226 for their early career.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - DavisLocated in the city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #102 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UC Santa Cruz is a great university overall.
There were roughly 61 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the physics program report average early career earnings of $36,552.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Santa CruzLocated in the city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 28th out of 168 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were roughly 55 physics students who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the physics program at California State University - Long Beach get $2,372 more than the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in physics from California State University - Long Beach
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