2026 Best Value Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physics Schools
For return on investment in physics, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $61,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $24,161. Early-career physics graduates make about $41,256. That is a strong return on a $24,161 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values for physics. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Physics graduates carry a median of $21,948 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $30,203. Set against $21,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $74,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physics will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #5. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $77,211. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Stark State College landed the #6 spot for physics value this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Physics graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Physics graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls earned the #7 position for value in physics this year. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $30,000. Early-career physics graduates make about $62,196. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #8 for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,687 to complete the physics program here. Physics graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,687 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #9 among the best values for physics. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $36,878. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University landed the #10 spot for physics value this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $55,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #11 spot for physics value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $26,657. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $46,561. Set against $26,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire placed #12 among the best values for physics. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Physics graduates carry a median of $22,574 in student loans. Physics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $49,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #13 for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $23,357. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $82,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete the physics program here. Early-career physics graduates make about $55,718. That is a strong return on a $24,838 median debt. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Chicago landed the #15 spot for physics value this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Physics graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $21,896. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $49,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #17 position for value in physics this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Physics graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $44,776. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Michigan State University came in at #18 for value in physics this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Physics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $56,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #19 for value in physics this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Physics graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Carthage College came in at #20 for value in physics this year. Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kenosha. In-state tuition and fees average $38,750. Physics graduates carry a median of $25,708 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Carthage College generally make around $41,923. That is a strong return on a $25,708 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Northwestern University came in at #21 for value in physics this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Physics graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career physics graduates make about $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Typical student debt for physics graduates is $26,557. Early-career physics graduates make about $29,160. That is a strong return on a $26,557 median debt. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Notre Dame placed #23 among the best values for physics. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,025. Physics graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Physics graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $69,494 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value physics schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,704. Physics graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans. Physics graduates of Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of $50,808 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,857 median debt. Illinois Wesleyan University admits about 39% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #25 for value in physics this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the physics program here. Soon after graduation, physics degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Physics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s physics value ranking:
Narrow Physics Schools by State
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 141 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
