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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics in California (With Aid)

11 Ranked Colleges
245 Degrees Awarded
$35,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

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 California, there were 3,131 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,486 and $19,317 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 245 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid” 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for california doctor’s degree physics students with aid.

Top 11 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physics in California (With Aid)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 57 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at Stanford

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Diego. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 doctorate’s physics degrees to qualified students.

UCSD also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631.

Read more about Physics at University of California - San Diego

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Riverside. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

UCR also made our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686.

Read full report on Physics at UCR

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 13 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also took the #8 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at UC Irvine

#5

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #5 spot on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at University of California - Los Angeles

#6

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. UCSB is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 20 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670.

Read more about Physics at University of California - Santa Barbara

University of California - Berkeley came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physics degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physics at UC Berkeley

University of California - Davis landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physics at UC Davis

#11 in overall quality

University of California - Merced ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Merced, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Merced, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Merced are $43,854, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Merced Physics Report

#10

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#2 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Caltech is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 11 doctorate’s physics degrees in 2019-2020.

Caltech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at California Institute of Technology

#11

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physics Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Physics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physics at University of California - Santa Cruz

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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