2023 Best Value Colleges for Physics (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
44
Ranked Colleges
1,760
Degrees Awarded
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 1,760 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,251 and $23,230 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 44 colleges that offer 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.
More Ways to Rank Physics Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Physics (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physics degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $5,849 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Physics at Northwestern University
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 102 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $8,375 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Chicago Physics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 118 students in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $10,481 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read full report on Physics at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 78 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University - Main Campus is $8,450 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Purdue University - Main Campus Physics Report
Out of the 44 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #5 spot on the list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 144 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $10,364 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Physics Report
With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 106 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UIUC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,505 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UIUC.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, 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.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Physics Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 114 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $13,273 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physics at Ohio State
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 40 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $12,369 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physics at IU Bloomington
University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 59 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Notre Dame has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Notre Dame is $14,020 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Physics at Notre Dame
Beloit College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Beloit College is located in Beloit, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Beloit has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,850 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Beloit College.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Beloit Physics Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 27 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $14,737 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Physics at UW - Eau Claire
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 26 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $14,105 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UIC Physics Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $13,198 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, 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 86%.
Read more about Physics at UW - La Crosse
University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.
UW - River Falls did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $14,528 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physics at UW - River Falls
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 7 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $13,306 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at IUPUI
Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Fort Wayne, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend PFW is $13,015 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Physics at PFW
University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $12,061 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Full UW - Parkside Physics Report
With a ranking of #18, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ball State University is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State also made our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $15,158 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ball State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at Ball State University
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 78 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $20,557 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, 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 91%.
Full Michigan State University Physics Report
Wayne State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 24 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,612 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Wayne State.
Read full report on Physics at Wayne State University
Illinois Institute of Technology ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Illinois Institute of Technology is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 15 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois Tech, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $22,339 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Illinois Tech.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, 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. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Illinois Institute of Technology Physics Report
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 3 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,560 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full UW - Stevens Point Physics Report
Western Illinois University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 12 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $15,794 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Physics at Western Illinois University
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $14,226 for Great Lakes Region Physics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Physics at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 26 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,867 for great lakes region physics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UC.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.
Read more about Physics at UC
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