2025 Best Physics Schools in California
20
Colleges in California
2,939
Physics Degrees Awarded
$52,956
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.
For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in California to determine which ones were the best for physics students pursuing a degree. 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
Every student who is interested in physics has to take a look at University of California - Berkeley. Located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #14 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall.
There were about 152 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent data year. Physics degree recipients from University of California - Berkeley earn a boost of approximately $10,805 above the average income of physics graduates.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Berkeley
Every student pursuing a degree in physics has to check out University of California - San Diego. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #49 out of 2,152 schools 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 data year. After graduation, physics degree recipients generally earn an average of $48,951 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - San Diego
University of California - Irvine is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in physics. Located in the city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #73 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Irvine is a great university overall.
There were approximately 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 state that they receive average early career income of $43,144.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Irvine
Any student pursuing a degree in physics needs to look into University of California - Santa Barbara. UCSB is a very large public university located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara. A Best Colleges rank of #47 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UCSB is a great university overall.
There were about 194 physics students who graduated with this degree at UCSB in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients usually earn an average of $53,597 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Santa Barbara
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
7th
Most Popular In CA
97
Physics Degrees Awarded
UC Davis is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Davis. A Best Colleges rank of #55 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UC Davis is a great university overall.
There were about 97 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Davis
UCLA is a very large public university located in the city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of #28 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UCLA is a great university overall.
There were approximately 119 physics students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent data year. Physics degree recipients from University of California - Los Angeles receive an earnings boost of about $9,789 over the typical earnings of physics graduates.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Los Angeles
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
20th
Most Popular In CA
51
Physics Degrees Awarded
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. A Best Colleges rank of #165 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a great university overall.
There were about 51 physics students who graduated with this degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in physics from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Located in the city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #91 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UC Santa Cruz is a great university overall.
There were approximately 61 physics students who graduated with this degree at UC Santa Cruz in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the physics program make an average of $37,859 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a degree in physics from University of California - Santa Cruz
Located in the large city of San Diego, SDSU is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #185 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means SDSU is a great university overall.
There were approximately 20 physics students who graduated with this degree at SDSU in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in physics from San Diego State University
Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 30th out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were roughly 26 physics students who graduated with this degree at SFSU in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in physics from San Francisco State University
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