by our College Data Analytics Team
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 959 schools to find the best return on investment for physics students.
What’s on this page:
The physics program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Physics Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Physics Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
College Of The Canyons tops our 2026 list of the best value physics schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Physics graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Fullerton is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $15,525. Physics graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $54,471 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Moorpark College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $17,075. Early-career physics graduates make about $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of San Mateo earned it the #4 place for physics. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Physics graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physics, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $13,750. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego Miramar College placed #6 among the best values for physics. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Physics graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Physics graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Skyline College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Oxnard College came in at #8 for value in physics this year. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Cuny Hunter College came in at #9 for value in physics this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $11,091. Early-career physics graduates make about $51,372. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Irvine Valley College placed #10 among the best values for physics. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $11,860. Physics graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego Mesa College landed the #11 spot for physics value this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $29,852. That is a strong return on a $6,999 median debt.
Saddleback College earned the #12 position for value in physics this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santiago Canyon College placed #13 among the best values for physics. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $5,500. Physics graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Pasadena City College earned the #14 position for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Physics graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Physics graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College placed #15 among the best values for physics. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,380, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $21,500. Early-career physics graduates make about $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #16 position for value in physics this year. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $13,287. Physics graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $43,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Princeton University earned the #17 position for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $10,888. Early-career physics graduates make about $67,532. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Grossmont College placed #18 among the best values for physics. Grossmont College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
Orange Coast College came in at #19 for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $46,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
Diablo Valley College placed #21 among the best values for physics. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,312, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Physics graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Set against $9,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stanford University landed the #22 spot for physics value this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
American River College landed the #23 spot for physics value this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Students borrow a median of $14,105 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt.
Norco College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Physics graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. That is a strong return on a $8,203 median debt.
Folsom Lake College landed the #25 spot for physics value this year. Set in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,568 ten years after entry.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in physics:
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Physics. See all related rankings.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physics, General | 8,635 |
| Physics, Other | 391 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 238 |
| Acoustics | 174 |
| Theoretical and Mathematical Physics | 32 |
| Atomic/Molecular Physics | 5 |
| Elementary Particle Physics | 4 |
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 959 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 159 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.