2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 14,123 people earned their degree in physics, making the major the 67th most popular in the United States. 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 Pennsylvania, there were 549 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,900 and $27,000 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 62 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 5 colleges that offered a degree in physics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great physics programs and 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 5 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania

#1

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

#2 in overall quality

$41,760 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. UPenn is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 17 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UPenn also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760.

Full University of Pennsylvania Physics Report

#2

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

#1 in overall quality

$47,326 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carnegie Mellon University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Carnegie Mellon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon University are $47,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Carnegie Mellon Physics Report

#3

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

#4 in overall quality

$40,836 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this large public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

Pitt also took the #4 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Pitt are $40,836.

Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Physics Report

#4

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

#5 in overall quality

$24,236 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Temple University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Temple University is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 5 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Temple, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Temple are $24,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at Temple University

#5

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

#3 in overall quality

$37,074 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Drexel University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Drexel not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Drexel University are $37,074, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Drexel University Physics Report

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k)

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.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to A. T. Service.

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