by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 12 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Physics Doctor's Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 414 doctor's degrees in physics to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The physics doctor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of doctorate graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their doctor's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for physics students working on their doctor's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Physics Doctor's Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list, to help you choose the best school for you.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a doctor's degree in physics.
Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a doctor's degree in physics. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from Cornell University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a wonderful option for students interested in a doctor's degree in physics. Columbia is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of New York.More information about a doctorate in physics from Columbia University in the City of New York
It's hard to beat University of Rochester if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in physics. University of Rochester is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Rochester.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of Rochester
Johns Hopkins University is a great choice for students pursuing a doctor's degree in physics. Located in the large city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from Johns Hopkins University
Located in the suburb of Rochester, RIT is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from Rochester Institute of Technology
Located in the suburb of College Park, UMCP is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of Maryland - College Park
Pitt is a very large public university located in the large city of Pittsburgh.More information about a doctorate in physics from University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus
NYU is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of New York.More information about a doctorate in physics from New York University
Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from Syracuse University
Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers New Brunswick is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in physics from Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Explore the best physics colleges for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 176 | 87 |
| New York | 174 | 136 |
| Maryland | 119 | 43 |
| New Jersey | 115 | 33 |
| District of Columbia | 81 | 16 |
| Delaware | 53 | 9 |
Physics is one of 8 different types of Physical Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Physics | 357 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 32 |
| Other Physics | 16 |
| Acoustics | 9 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 478 |
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 79 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 51 |
| Materials Sciences | 47 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 26 |
| General Physical Sciences | 2 |
| Other Physical Science | 2 |
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