2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid
20
Ranked Colleges
3,224
Degrees Awarded
$13,900
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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 California, there were 3,224 physics graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,268 and $18,506 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 California For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid.
Top 20 Best Value Colleges for Physics in California (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 85 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.
Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Stanford University is $12,894 for California Physics students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 Stanford
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Cal State LA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Los Angeles is $3,302 for California Physics students with aid.
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%.
Full California State University - Los Angeles Physics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 82 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
UCSD also made our “Best Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - San Diego is $15,240 for California Physics students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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 UCSD Physics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 123 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA also made our “Best Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $15,023 for California Physics students with aid per year to attend UCLA.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Physics at UCLA
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 199 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,252 for California Physics students with aid per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physics at UCSB
With a ranking of #6, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 48 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $10,054 for California Physics students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.
Full CSULB Physics Report
University of California - Irvine ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 122 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine also made our “Best Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Irvine is $12,209 for california physics students with aid.
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 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 University of California - Irvine
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 35 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california physics students with aid list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fullerton is $8,003 for California Physics students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full California State University - Fullerton Physics Report
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 197 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,032 for california physics students with aid per year to attend University of California - Berkeley.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Berkeley Physics Report
With a ranking of #10, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 90 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $15,768 for California Physics students with aid.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 University of California - Davis
With a ranking of #11, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Riverside is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 83 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
UCR also took the #11 spot in our “Best Physics Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Riverside is $11,822 for California Physics students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Physics at UCR
California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $8,523 for california physics students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Northridge Physics Report
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified ’s physics students in 2020-2021.
SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. It costs about $13,845 for California Physics students with aid per year to attend SDSU.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Physics at San Diego State University
University of California - Merced came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Merced, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physics degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california physics students with aid list, UC Merced has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $13,691 for california physics students with aid per year to attend University of California - Merced.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full University of California - Merced Physics Report
University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 95 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $17,930 for California Physics students with aid per year to attend University of California - Santa Cruz.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physics at University of California - Santa Cruz
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 25 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $14,304 for california physics students with aid.
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 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%.
Read full report on Physics at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
California State University - Sacramento came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Sac State also made our “Best Physics Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $11,178 for california physics students with aid per year to attend Sac State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Physics at California State University - Sacramento
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s physics degrees to qualified students.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $20,677 for California Physics students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Humboldt State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 10 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california physics students with aid list, Humboldt State University has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Physics Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,956 for california physics students with aid per year to attend Humboldt State University.
Full Humboldt State University Physics Report
With a ranking of #20, California Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Physics Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Caltech is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 52 ’s physics degrees in 2020-2021.
Caltech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Physics Schools in California” list. It costs about $26,542 for California Physics students with aid per year to attend California Institute of Technology.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Physics at Caltech
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