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2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

25 Ranked Colleges
673 Degrees Awarded
$12,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Physics is the 67th most popular major in the country with 14,123 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, physics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $42,475 and had an average of $22,421 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,185 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $64,500 and $22,324 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 673 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 25 colleges that offered a degree in physics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent physics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the physics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 “Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #1 spot on the list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 10 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Rio Grande Valley has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $2,993 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at UT Rio Grande Valley

#2

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Arizona. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 74 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Arizona, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $10,562 for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Physics at University of Arizona

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Texas. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of North Texas is a large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 15 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNT has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Texas is $8,521 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of North Texas Physics Report

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UTSA is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $10,516 for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Full UTSA Physics Report

#5

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #5 spot on the list. Texas Tech is located in Lubbock, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,317 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Tech.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Physics at Texas Tech University

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in College Station, Texas, this large public school handed out 37 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M College Station is $11,454 for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full Texas A&M College Station Physics Report

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #7 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,044 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ASU - Tempe.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full ASU - Tempe Physics Report

The University of Texas at Austin landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school awarded 87 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $12,203 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Austin.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Physics at The University of Texas at Austin

#9 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. OSU is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,669 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Physics at OSU

#5 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Dallas landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UT Dallas is a public institution located in Richardson, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Dallas is $10,857 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Physics Report

#21 in overall quality

The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UTEP is a large public school situated in El Paso, Texas. It awarded 12 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UTEP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at El Paso is $7,092 for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Physics at The University of Texas at El Paso

#12

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas State is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Texas State also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $11,125 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas State.

Read more about Physics at Texas State University

#18 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

NMSU Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Main Campus is $6,896 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Physics at NMSU Main Campus

#14

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physics degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

UH also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $10,203 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Physics at University of Houston

#15

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Huntsville, Texas, this large public school awarded 10 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SHSU, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,561 for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SHSU.

Read full report on Physics at Sam Houston State University

#16

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $9,251 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NAU.

Read full report on Physics at NAU

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. The University of Texas at Arlington is a large school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 28 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Arlington is $11,811 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full The University of Texas at Arlington Physics Report

#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Stephen F Austin State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stephen F Austin State University is located in Nacogdoches, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

SFASU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Stephen F Austin State University is $8,650 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Physics at SFASU

#19

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas
#13 in overall quality

Tarleton State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Tarleton is a fairly large school located in Stephenville, Texas that handed out 4 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarleton also made our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $15,604 for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Tarleton.

Read full report on Physics at Tarleton State University

#16 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Norman, Oklahoma, this large public school awarded 10 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $16,675 for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Oklahoma.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at University of Oklahoma

#21

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#23 in overall quality

University of New Mexico - Main Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNM, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of New Mexico - Main Campus is $13,242 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Physics at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

#22

Baylor University

Waco, Texas
#6 in overall quality

Baylor University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Baylor did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $26,726 for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Baylor University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Physics at Baylor University

#23

Texas Southern University

Houston, Texas
#25 in overall quality

Texas Southern University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Houston, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

TSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Southern University is $19,390 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Physics at Texas Southern University

#24

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas
#19 in overall quality

Texas Christian University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physics students in 2019-2020.

TCU also took the #19 spot in our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $21,286 for southwest region bachelor’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Christian University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full TCU Physics Report

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Embry-Riddle Prescott is located in Prescott, Arizona and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Embry-Riddle Prescott did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Physics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $31,082 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Physics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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