by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools in the Southeast Region to determine which ones were the best for physics students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 325 master's degrees in physics to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Your choice of physics for getting your master's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality physics program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their master's degree from the school. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their master's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for physics students working on their master's degree.
The physics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Physics Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in physics.
Duke University is a great decision for individuals interested in a master's degree in physics. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in physics from Duke University
Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in physics. Located in the large city of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in physics from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
It is hard to beat University of North Carolina at Charlotte if you want to pursue a master's degree in physics. Located in the large city of Charlotte, UNC Charlotte is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in physics from University of North Carolina at Charlotte
It is hard to beat University of Florida if you want to pursue a master's degree in physics. Located in the city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in physics from University of Florida
NC State is a very large public university located in the city of Raleigh.More information about a master’s in physics from North Carolina State University
Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in physics from Florida State University
GMU is a very large public university located in the suburb of Fairfax.More information about a master’s in physics from George Mason University
Located in the large city of Louisville, UofL is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in physics from University of Louisville
UCF is a very large public university located in the large suburb of Orlando.More information about a master’s in physics from University of Central Florida
Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State is a public university with a very large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the physics program report average early career wages of $79,066.
More information about a master’s in physics from Appalachian State UniversityExplore the best physics colleges for a specific state in the Southeast Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 208 | 51 |
| Georgia | 190 | 26 |
| Virginia | 182 | 41 |
| North Carolina | 178 | 92 |
| Tennessee | 166 | 18 |
| Alabama | 151 | 20 |
| Kentucky | 147 | 8 |
| Louisiana | 147 | 11 |
| South Carolina | 146 | 5 |
| Mississippi | 145 | 13 |
| Arkansas | 121 | 2 |
| West Virginia | 112 | 10 |
Physics is one of 8 different types of Physical Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Physics | 271 |
| Other Physics | 39 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 10 |
| Atomic/Molecular Physics | 5 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 407 |
| Chemistry | 393 |
| Other Physical Science | 32 |
| General Physical Sciences | 22 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 21 |
| Materials Sciences | 20 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 19 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 3 |
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