2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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 the Great Lakes region, there were 1,820 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,980 and $21,326 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 281 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 31 colleges that offer 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the physics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physics (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 10 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.
U-M also took the #3 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.
Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.
Read more about Physics at University of Wisconsin - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Notre Dame. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 12 degrees to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.
Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ohio State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141.
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 14 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Physics Report
With a ranking of #10, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, IUPUI has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Physics at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIC has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #12, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ball State has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Oakland University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Oakland has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland University are $24,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 4 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928.
With a ranking of #15, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified masters’s physics students in 2019-2020.
Michigan State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Western Illinois University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 7 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 9 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Miami University - Oxford landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Central Michigan University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Central Michigan is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 4 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
Central Michigan also made our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359.
With a ranking of #20, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wayne State is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Eastern Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 5 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan are $26,552, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 7 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Case Western, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western are $47,958, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physics degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UWM has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 6 masters’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.
UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644.
Kent State University at Kent came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Physics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952.
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to A. T. Service.
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