2027 Best Value General Physics Schools in Illinois

[General Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/general-physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general physics students.
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2027 Best Value General Physics Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Physics Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2027 list of the best value general physics schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $20,115. Early-career general physics graduates make about $61,829. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the best values for general physics. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #3 place for general physics. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $77,211. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Lewis University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general physics, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. General Physics graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $55,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
A rank of #5 makes Wheaton College Illinois one of the best values for general physics. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. General Physics graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. General Physics graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $43,654 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants.
Northwestern University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general physics schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
More General Physics Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.