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2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

51 Ranked Colleges
2,030 Degrees Awarded
$9,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Physics is the 68th most popular major in the country with 13,674 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, physics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $42,960 and had an average of $22,756 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 2,030 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,858 and $23,908 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 51 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Physics (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region

1
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wake Forest University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This medium-sized school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 17 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wake Forest University, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $5,612 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wake Forest University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at Wake Forest University

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UNC Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 57 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

UNC Chapel Hill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $5,729 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at UNC Chapel Hill

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 58 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

UF also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $2,857 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Florida.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Full University of Florida Physics Report

4
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 38 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at William & Mary, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $7,507 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend William & Mary.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Physics at William & Mary

5
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Florida State is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

Florida State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $7,349 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Florida State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Florida State University Physics Report

6

With a ranking of #6, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

USF Tampa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $5,632 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Physics Report

7
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Emory University is a fairly large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 24 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Emory, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Emory is $8,976 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Emory Physics Report

8
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

With a ranking of #8, University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Virginia is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 59 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Virginia also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia is $10,063 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Physics Report

9
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 60 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, NC State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina State University is $9,448 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Physics at NC State

10
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. University of Georgia is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 19 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UGA has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $10,688 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Georgia.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physics at University of Georgia

11

Florida International University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Miami, Florida, this large public school handed out 49 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend FIU is $4,882 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Read more about Physics at FIU

12

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Georgia Tech is a large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 60 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

Georgia Tech also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is $11,712 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Physics at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

13
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Florida Atlantic University is a large school located in Boca Raton, Florida that handed out 12 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

FAU also took the #24 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FAU is $8,262 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Florida Atlantic University Physics Report

14
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #14, Virginia Tech did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $14,003 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Virginia Tech.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physics at Virginia Tech

15
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. WVU is a large public school situated in Morgantown, West Virginia. It awarded 32 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

WVU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WVU is $10,250 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full WVU Physics Report

16
UNF crest
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,074 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Florida.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Read full report on Physics at University of North Florida

17
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Appalachian State is a large school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 45 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Appalachian State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Appalachian State is $9,940 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. 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 Appalachian State

18

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Louisiana State University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Louisiana State University is $15,403 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%. 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 Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

19
NKU crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Northern Kentucky University is $5,947 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full NKU Physics Report

20

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 58 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.

UT Knoxville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UT Knoxville is $13,970 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Physics at UT Knoxville

21

University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNC Charlotte has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNC Charlotte is $13,226 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. 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 Carolina at Charlotte Physics Report

22
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #22, East Carolina University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. East Carolina University is located in Greenville, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.

ECU also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend East Carolina University is $13,029 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Physics at East Carolina University

23
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

Georgia State also took the #22 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Georgia State is $15,767 for southeast region physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Physics at Georgia State University

24
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, this large public school handed out 20 degrees to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $10,661 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Physics at Middle Tennessee State University

25
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mississippi State is a public institution located in Mississippi State, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Mississippi State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $13,553 for Southeast Region Physics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mississippi State.

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

Read more about Physics at Mississippi State

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