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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

11 Ranked Colleges
105 Degrees Awarded
$24,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Plains States region, there were 767 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,600 and $24,015 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 105 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree in physics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality physics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the physics program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Physics Schools

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 Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 11 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 14 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845.

Full UMN Twin Cities Physics Report

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #2 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 5 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Duluth are $28,606.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Physics Report

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193.

Read full report on Physics at Mizzou

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 4 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948.

Full Iowa State University Physics Report

#5

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 4 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL also took the #9 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - St Louis are $30,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis Physics Report

#6

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#7 in overall quality

Kansas State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. K -State is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at K -State are $24,115, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physics at K -State

#10 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699.

Read more about Physics at UMKC

#8

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. WSU is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 4 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wichita State University are $15,112, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physics at Wichita State University

#9

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#4 in overall quality

University of Kansas came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree physics students whose families make $0-$30k list, KU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007.

Full University of Kansas Physics Report

#6 in overall quality

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SD Mines is a small public school situated in Rapid City, South Dakota. It awarded 3 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

SD Mines not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are $19,250.

Read more about Physics at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

#11

Creighton University

Omaha, Nebraska
#8 in overall quality

Creighton University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Creighton University is a medium-sized school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 5 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Creighton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Creighton are $18,528.

Read full report on Physics at Creighton

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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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